04:13The ceremony of the 22nd Christian national pilgrimage to the baptism site north of the Dead Sea in Jordan kicked off on Friday, amid tightened health measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The ceremony was led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The ceremonial mass was held inside the Church of Baptism of Christ where the Patriarch sprayed the audience with the holy water of the Jordan river as the scout teams played music outside the church.
The number of pilgrims was limited to 1,000 worshippers this year in order to allow for social distancing inside the church, which can usually accommodate up to 2000 worshippers. Mass participants were seen praying while wearing face masks.
"Due to the COVID pandemic for the second year in a row, the number of participants was reduced. Last year there have been several hundred, but this year we have selected 1,000 worshippers from our various parishes and dear churches, in addition to scouts and priests from various catholic churches," Bishop Rifaat Badr explained.
During a press conference, Patriarch Pierbattista thanked the efforts exerted by the Royal Baptism site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, and expressed his hopes that the construction works of the Church of Baptism of Christ be completed this year.
The annual pilgrimage to the baptism site for the Catholic Churches is held on the second Friday of January of each year.
Jordan: Catholic churches celebrate pilgrimage to baptism site amid ongoing pandemic and health restrictions
The ceremony of the 22nd Christian national pilgrimage to the baptism site north of the Dead Sea in Jordan kicked off on Friday, amid tightened health measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The ceremony was led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The ceremonial mass was held inside the Church of Baptism of Christ where the Patriarch sprayed the audience with the holy water of the Jordan river as the scout teams played music outside the church.
The number of pilgrims was limited to 1,000 worshippers this year in order to allow for social distancing inside the church, which can usually accommodate up to 2000 worshippers. Mass participants were seen praying while wearing face masks.
"Due to the COVID pandemic for the second year in a row, the number of participants was reduced. Last year there have been several hundred, but this year we have selected 1,000 worshippers from our various parishes and dear churches, in addition to scouts and priests from various catholic churches," Bishop Rifaat Badr explained.
During a press conference, Patriarch Pierbattista thanked the efforts exerted by the Royal Baptism site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, and expressed his hopes that the construction works of the Church of Baptism of Christ be completed this year.
The annual pilgrimage to the baptism site for the Catholic Churches is held on the second Friday of January of each year.
The ceremony of the 22nd Christian national pilgrimage to the baptism site north of the Dead Sea in Jordan kicked off on Friday, amid tightened health measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The ceremony was led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The ceremonial mass was held inside the Church of Baptism of Christ where the Patriarch sprayed the audience with the holy water of the Jordan river as the scout teams played music outside the church.
The number of pilgrims was limited to 1,000 worshippers this year in order to allow for social distancing inside the church, which can usually accommodate up to 2000 worshippers. Mass participants were seen praying while wearing face masks.
"Due to the COVID pandemic for the second year in a row, the number of participants was reduced. Last year there have been several hundred, but this year we have selected 1,000 worshippers from our various parishes and dear churches, in addition to scouts and priests from various catholic churches," Bishop Rifaat Badr explained.
During a press conference, Patriarch Pierbattista thanked the efforts exerted by the Royal Baptism site Commission, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, and expressed his hopes that the construction works of the Church of Baptism of Christ be completed this year.
The annual pilgrimage to the baptism site for the Catholic Churches is held on the second Friday of January of each year.