It is a balanced phrase like the two pans of a scale. The first pan is the protection of Christianity and its authentic historical presence in this region, at a time when Christians, along with their Muslim brothers in the Palestinian territories, face harsh conditions and challenges affecting human beings, sacred sites, and religious and educational institutions.
The second pan is the defense of the true image of Islam against attempts to associate it with violence, extremism, and terrorism. For many years, Jordan has carried this message to the world, affirming that extremism does not represent religion, that terrorism cannot be attributed to an entire creed, and that combating hatred is through a culture of dialogue, mutual respect, and coexistence.
This is exactly what the evening at the Roman Amphitheater embodied. Christian hymns rose alongside Islamic chants, and musicians, singers, and reciters stood on the same stage, before one Jordanian family, to tell the world that our national unity is not a passing slogan, but a precious treasure that we hold and protect.
This is the significance of the evening's title: 'Spiritual Breezes from the Land of Baptism'. On Jordanian soil, and in the waters of its blessed river, the baptism of Jesus Christ took place nearly two thousand years ago, and from there his message spread, carrying good news, hope, love, and peace.
Today, as we look forward to 2030 and the commemoration of the two-thousandth anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ, we are not only preparing for a religious occasion, but also for a significant Jordanian and global achievement. It is an opportunity to present Jordan to the world as the land of baptism, the land of prophets, the land of harmony, and the natural and harmonious coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
Preparation for 2030 is not only about infrastructure and receiving pilgrims and visitors, but also about crafting a sophisticated Jordanian narrative that reaches the entire world: a narrative of a safe and stable homeland, carrying a message of peace and moderation, preserving its religious and human heritage, and proud of its national unity.
The evening at the Roman Amphitheater was more than a musical concert; it was a Jordanian message in sound and image. Between the sound of the bells and the sound of the minarets, and between Amman and the Jordan River, we say to the world as we move towards 2030: This is the land of baptism, this is the land of brotherhood, and from here we want the message of peace to be renewed.
