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Crowds greet Pope at Jordan Mass Pope visits Christ 'baptism site'
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of Jordanians have joined Pope Benedict XVI for an open-air Mass in a football stadium, on the third day of his Middle East tour. Pope Benedict XVI is visiting the reputed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jordan, on the third day of his Middle East tour.
The crowd, in the capital Amman, included hundreds of children waving flags of Jordan and the Vatican. The Pope arrived in a motorcade of electric vehicles to the site at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan.
Earlier, the Pope held Mass for thousands of people at a football stadium in the Jordanian capital Amman.
Jordan's 200,000 Roman Catholics, and other Christians, were given a special holiday to enable them to attend.Jordan's 200,000 Roman Catholics, and other Christians, were given a special holiday to enable them to attend.
But the BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the 20,000-seat stadium was not completely full.But the BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the 20,000-seat stadium was not completely full.
'Courage of conviction''Courage of conviction'
Our correspondent says the situation for the dwindling Catholic minority in the Middle East has worsened considerably since the last Papal visit to Jordan nine years ago.Our correspondent says the situation for the dwindling Catholic minority in the Middle East has worsened considerably since the last Papal visit to Jordan nine years ago.
POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits Western Wall, meets Chief RabbisWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs In pictures: Pope visits Jordan Pope in the Mid East: The issues Profile: Pope Benedict XVI Send us your commentsPOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits Western Wall, meets Chief RabbisWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs In pictures: Pope visits Jordan Pope in the Mid East: The issues Profile: Pope Benedict XVI Send us your comments
He says many Catholic families have emigrated.He says many Catholic families have emigrated.
During Mass, the Pope urged the congregation not to forget the "great dignity" that comes from their Christian heritage.During Mass, the Pope urged the congregation not to forget the "great dignity" that comes from their Christian heritage.
"Fidelity to your Christian roots, fidelity to the Church's mission in the Holy Land, demands of each of you a particular kind of courage," he said."Fidelity to your Christian roots, fidelity to the Church's mission in the Holy Land, demands of each of you a particular kind of courage," he said.
"The courage of conviction, born of personal faith, not mere social convention or family tradition.""The courage of conviction, born of personal faith, not mere social convention or family tradition."
Later the Pope will visit Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan - the site reputed to be where Jesus Christ was baptised.
The pontiff is also due to visit Israel and the West Bank on his eight-day tour.The pontiff is also due to visit Israel and the West Bank on his eight-day tour.
Inter-faith controversiesInter-faith controversies
So far, he has stressed the importance of Muslim and Christian communities working together.So far, he has stressed the importance of Muslim and Christian communities working together.
In a speech on Saturday at the King Hussein mosque in Amman, he warned against the "ideological manipulation" of religion for political ends, which he said could act as a "catalyst for tension and division".In a speech on Saturday at the King Hussein mosque in Amman, he warned against the "ideological manipulation" of religion for political ends, which he said could act as a "catalyst for tension and division".
The Pope's visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews.The Pope's visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews.
Pope Benedict upset Muslims in 2006 with a speech in which he quoted a medieval scholar who was critical of the Prophet Muhammad.Pope Benedict upset Muslims in 2006 with a speech in which he quoted a medieval scholar who was critical of the Prophet Muhammad.
The pontiff also upset some Jews recently by rescinding the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.The pontiff also upset some Jews recently by rescinding the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.