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Pope visits Christ 'baptism site' Pope visits Christ 'baptism site'
(about 3 hours later)
Pope Benedict XVI has visited the reputed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jordan, on the third day of his Middle East tour.Pope Benedict XVI has visited the reputed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jordan, on the third day of his Middle East tour.
The Pope arrived in a motorcade of electric vehicles to the site at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan.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.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.
David WilleyBBC News, Jerusalem While Pope Benedict was following in the footsteps of John the Baptist, laying the cornerstones of two new Catholic Churches to be built at a site near the river Jordan where Christ is said to have been baptised, I went ahead of him, lower down the river, and took the road to Jerusalem. The pilgrim bus took us to first to Mount Nebo, where the Prophet Moses is believed to be buried and where Pope Benedict went to pray on Saturday in the ruins of a very early Christian Church built on a mountain top. You look down over the Dead Sea in the misty distance, and pass flocks of goats and bedouin tents that remind you of biblical illustrations in schoolbooks. We drove down into the desert valley of Judea, well below sea level, where the temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius, and we crossed into Israel, where the pope arrives by air on Monday morning to what could be a politically tricky five days before he returns home to Rome. Sunday was a visual lesson in Middle East Geopolitics: the small and dwindling Arab Christian community gathered round their Pope in the Amman football stadium; the transition to ancient historic Jerusalem from dusty modern Amman, a new sprawling Islamic megacity, through a biblical desert landscape. And then the Allenby Bridge and the River Jordan border crossing with Israel and the steep climb up to Jerusalem where you see for the first time Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories nosing their way into the desert.
The Pope was accompanied to what is believed to be the baptismal site by King Abdullah of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania. He blessed the cornerstones of two churches on the site.The Pope was accompanied to what is believed to be the baptismal site by King Abdullah of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania. He blessed the cornerstones of two churches on the site.
'Courage of conviction''Courage of conviction'
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.
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.
David WilleyBBC News, Jerusalem Sunday was a visual lesson in Middle East Geopolitics: the small and dwindling Arab Christian community gathered round their Pope in the Amman football stadium; the transition to ancient historic Jerusalem from dusty modern Amman, a new sprawling Islamic megacity, through a biblical desert landscape.
And then the Allenby Bridge and the River Jordan border crossing with Israel and the steep climb up to Jerusalem where you see for the first time Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories nosing their way into the desert.
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."
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.
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
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.