AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan, chairperson of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies' board of trustees, on Saturday extended his congratulations to heads and representatives of churches in the Kingdom and to members of the Christian communities on the occasion of Christmas during a visit to the Presentation of the Lord Cathedral.

 

Prince Hassan, in the presence of a number of former ministers and prominent Muslim and Christian national figures, extended Christmas greetings, at a challenging time when the suffering of the people of Gaza remains at the forefront, with Jerusalem ever present in the heart and conscience, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

Prince Hassan reaffirmed his deep faith in humanity, emphasising that the true belief is grounded in solidarity and mutual support, and that freedom of faith, together with the right to full citizenship founded on complete equality in rights and responsibilities, forms a cornerstone of modern societies, safeguarded by clear constitutional provisions and unequivocal religious texts.

 

He also highlighted the significance of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, stressing that the historical bond between Jordan and the Holy City constitutes an essential part of the nation’s historical legacy.

 

Prince Hassan noted that Jordan submitted a portfolio to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in 1981 to have Old Jerusalem inscribed as a World Heritage site, followed by a request in 1982 to list it as a site in danger, adding that in 2004, Jordan, working with the Arab group, successfully blocked attempts by Israeli authorities to remove Old Jerusalem from the endangered list.

 

He also highlighted the civilisational role of religious endowments in Jerusalem, together with charitable trusts, in raising awareness among the city’s residents and preserving its long-standing cultural, religious, and social heritage.

 

The prince stressed the need for collective thinking on making Jerusalem’s religious endowments a key tool to support its residents, underscoring the importance of establishing a single investment body to develop a comprehensive plan for all endowments, transforming them from charitable or family trusts into developmental endowments.

 

He also stressed the importance of raising awareness among young people about issues of history and shared identity, bridging knowledge gaps, and enhancing their understanding of their responsibilities towards their cultural and human heritage.