AMMAN — Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) Coordination Committee member MP Wasfi Haddad in Egypt on Thursday met with Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa.

 

During the meetings, the two sides focused on Jordanian-Egyptian efforts to protect Christian heritage and holy sites and promote joint religious and cultural tourism, stressing the role of their shared spiritual heritage in fostering dialogue and peace, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

Haddad highlighted Jordan’s spiritual heritage, particularly Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, and the “deep” historical and spiritual ties between the site and Egypt’s Holy Family Trail, noting their role in promoting the two countries on the global religious tourism map.

 

He also presented preparations to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ at the Baptism Site in 2030, stressing the importance of international participation and highlighting the site’s global spiritual significance.

 

Haddad also underscored the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites and its role in preserving the city’s historical and legal identity.

 

Patriarch Theodore II highlighted the shared spiritual heritage between Jordan and Egypt, noting that their holy sites serve as bridges for dialogue, harmony and peace among peoples and cultures.

 

The IAO delegation’s visit to Egypt also included meetings with religious and parliamentary leaders and visits to sites along the Holy Family Trail.