If you are a Christian, you must have witnessed the pilgrimage of the Pope to the Holy Land that happened during the month of March 2000. Why did the Pope take the risk? The obvious reason is of course to reduce the tension between the Muslims, the Christians and the Israelites; and considering that this is the first trip of any Holy Father to this part of the world, this is indeed historic.
Since Jordan is the first stop for his itinerary, what preparations were made? For once the people of Jordan were united in welcoming the Pope, as hundreds of papal flags were posted and thousands of Jordanian
mini flags were waved by well-wishers at the pilgrimage route. And to think that Christians only comprise 4% and Sunni Muslims the rest of the population, the event really transcends whatever divides the devotees.
Why was Jordan chosen as the first stop? Well from the Bible Mount Nebo is east of the city Madaba in Jordan, it overlooks the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley which fronts Jericho and Jerusalem.
This area is significant to the Christian faith since it was here that God showed Moses the Promised Land and with succinct instructions that he can only see it but not able to cross the Jordan river nor occupy it. Again it is in Mount Nebo that Moses the servant of the Lord spent his final days and died in the land of Moab.
So, from Moses memorial in Mount Nebo the Pope will meet with 40 local church leaders and will then proceed to the Apostolic Nunciature in Abdoun.
by:
The Flagman
