On Friday, 9 December 2026, Msgr. Iyad Twal, Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan, presided over the Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord at the site of the Baptism (Al-Maghtas), as part of the celebration of the 26th Catholic Pilgrimage Day. The liturgy was attended by a broad ecclesial, popular, and official presence, during the Mass, His Excellency issued a call to live faith as a living journey grounded in a personal encounter with Christ and steadfastness in hope, affirming that Baptism is the beginning of a path that leads to a life filled with hope. Concelebrating the Mass were Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio, along with a number of bishops and priests.
The occasion was marked by the presence of official and diplomatic figures, as well as ecclesial delegations from the Philippines and media representatives from Vatican City. This took place at the invitation of the Patriarchal Vicariate and the Baptism Site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board, as part of ongoing efforts to highlight the Baptism Site of the Lord as a principal pilgrimage destination for faithful around the world.
Even amid heavy rains, the faithful set out on pilgrimage to the site of the Baptism
Msgr. Iyad Twal conveyed the greetings and blessing of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who apologized for his absence from this annual celebration due to his presence in Vatican City to participate in the Consistory of Cardinals convened by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, on for listening to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in the guidance of the Church.
In his homily, Msgr. Twal emphasized that the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord proclaims the opening of heaven to every person and the call to enter into a relationship of sonship with God. He explained that Baptism marks the beginning of a living journey of faith, based on a personal encounter with Jesus, who is capable of transforming human life. This journey, he noted, requires a heart willing to seek His presence, like that of the Magi and the shepherds, who followed the star despite not knowing the full picture. He added that we are called to draw near to Him with trust, despite our weakness and doubts, since faith does not mean having foreknowledge of all things. He affirmed that God is present even in difficult circumstances and gives signs of His presence through His Word, the sacraments, and through people, inviting the faithful to be attentive to His nearness, for living faith generates an inner peace that God goes before us and gives life its true meaning.
Msgr. Twal sprinkling the faithful with the Blessed water from the Jordan River, inviting them to renew their Baptismal vow
Prior to the Mass, the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, under the direction of Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader, held a press conference to highlight the importance of the site not only spiritually but also nationally, and the role the Media plays in making known this site. On behalf of the Catholic Church in Jordan, Msgr. Twal extended an invitation to pilgrims from all over the world to visit the Holy Land and the Jordan River and to receive blessings from this Holy site, noting that this year’s pilgrimage comes one year after the inauguration of the Church of the Baptism. His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Imad Hijazin, affirmed that the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ is among the most important Christian pilgrimage sites worldwide, stressing the joint efforts to enhance the pilgrim experience and to strengthen Jordan’s position as a leading destination for religious tourism. For his part, Mr. Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, highlighted the spiritual and historical significance of Jordan as a Holy Land that witnessed pivotal events of the Old Testament and the Gospel. He called for preparation for the Great Jubilee in 2033, marking 2,000 years since the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and noted that the Baptismal Site in Jordan will witness a special jubilee in 2030 on the occasion of 2,000 years since the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.
