My welcoming remarks, as Director General of the Catholic Center, began by calling for a minute of silence and prayer for the souls of the martyrs, remembering them by name to affirm that martyrs are not numbers, but individuals with stories, families, and dreams. There was a meaning in this commemoration that transcends mourning: that preserving human dignity begins by recognizing the individual, and that the pain that afflicted the martyrs' families afflicted the entire nation.
Hence, "Togetherness" came as more than just a word or a slogan. It means that no one should be left alone to face sadness, fear, or extremism, and that we must realize that the future of Christians and Muslims in our homelands is not a separate matter for one group over another, but a responsibility shared by all. We cannot think of Christians alone, or of Muslims as if they were an isolated island; the future belongs to us all, and the responsibility for it rests upon us all.
The word "Togetherness" carries the meaning of effective partnership: that we listen to one another, cooperate in facing challenges, protect human dignity, and refuse to turn religious or cultural difference into a cause for division. Conversely, it does not mean erasing the uniqueness of any group or settling for formal coexistence; the Jordanian people as a whole have expressed their rejection of the word "coexistence," which many used to denote good relations. Instead, new terms have emerged to highlight that every component should have its presence and contribution within a homeland that accommodates everyone, under wise leadership that is testified to by all corners of the globe.
This meaning has acquired special importance in Jordan, the country preparing to commemorate two thousand years since the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. I recalled His Majesty King Abdullah II's summary of the Jordanian narrative as the narrative of a nation, as His Majesty said this year on the 80th Independence Day: "It was not a margin in human history, but a land of harmony and encounter; Christ was baptized in the waters of its river, and the companions and followers lived in its expanse." It is a historical image that reminds us that Jordan's diversity is not incidental to its identity, but part of its composition.
From this perspective, "Togetherness" was chosen as the title for the conference and for the future of the participating countries. The challenges facing societies—from extremism and violence to polarization and weak trust—cannot be addressed by one group alone, and security measures alone are not enough to face them. Security is a necessity, but sustainable prevention also requires intellectual, educational, and cultural work that promotes acceptance of the other, fortifies generations against hate speech, and makes citizenship a shared space for all.
"Togetherness" is a call to build this future together: Christians and Muslims, religious and civil institutions, and present and future generations. It is a call for partnership to transform from words said on occasions into practice in education, media, and public work, and for every person to have a role in protecting and strengthening the national fabric.
In Amman, between the pain of loss and clinging to hope, and despite the conference being organized months before the Hamoud church tragedy, "Togetherness" seemed like a magical word for the coming days; not because it offers a ready-made solution, but because it places us before the most important question: How do we build a future where no one survives alone, but where everyone rises together? I am certain that in the near future, we will have intensive intellectual workshops to formulate an integrated strategy that specifically, importantly, and urgently examines how to combat the seeds of extremism that may dwell in some minds and souls of our Jordanian and Arab youth. We have a great duty to confront them and address their causes, so that we may cooperate together, in the spirit of Togetherness, to purify society from this scourge which, if it rages, causes great harm and kills innocent souls...
Let us work in the spirit of human, fruitful "Togetherness"...
