The title of the message read: "From the People of Jerusalem to His Holiness the Pope before Departing their Embrace." It was presented by Mr. Rouhi Al-Khatib, Mayor of Jerusalem, on behalf of the people of Jerusalem—Muslims and Christians, refugees and residents—wishing His Holiness a blessed pilgrimage, a safe return, and success in spreading the message of truth, justice, fraternity, and peace.
The message stated: "You have witnessed and condemned, alongside the senior clergy who accompanied you and hundreds of press, radio, and television journalists who flocked from all corners of the globe to convey the news of this gracious visit to their people, the true face of this free land. You and they have undoubtedly seen the extent of terrorism, killing, destruction, usurpation of homeland and wealth, and the displacement of the remaining families and residents at the hands of the same organized gang that conspired against Christ, peace be upon him, inflicting upon him death, bitter torment, displacement, and suffering."
It added: "Alongside this, you and all the clergy, intellectuals, and publishers have undoubtedly touched upon the high level of fraternal cooperation between the members of the two communities residing in the country—Christians and Muslims alike—as well as their steadfast adherence to their faith, their deep attachment to their homeland, especially its holy sites, their belief in the justice of their cause, and their determination to make efforts to build their future and overcome the aftermath of the Nakba."
As an affirmation of the continuous Hashemite Custodianship, the message noted that in all of this, the people of Jerusalem stand behind a courageous leader, a king watchful over the interests and glory of his people, a keeper of covenants, gracious to visitors and friends alike, a protector and guardian of the holy sites and their surroundings, proud of his nation and people, who in turn exchange with him the same sentiments and sincere loyalty.
The message delivered by Al-Khatib (the Mayor of Jerusalem) emphasizes that Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem live in a state of fraternal cooperation, adherence to faith, and devotion to the homeland.
The message highlights the efforts of King Hussein as a courageous leader and protector of the holy sites at a time when East Jerusalem was under Jordanian administration.
The message concludes with a clear political hope: "May the papal visit serve the cause of Palestine and the cause of the displaced."
Four years later, Al-Khatib himself would return to the Vatican in 1968 to brief Pope Paul VI on the Zionist danger facing the holy sites, continuing the same discourse he began in this farewell message—a message that made Jordan and Jerusalem the first stop in the history of modern papal pilgrimages and highlights a facet of the Hashemite Custodianship heritage that continues unbroken to this day, from the era of Sharif Hussein bin Ali to the era of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.
