Catholics from across Jordan made their annual pilgrimage to Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) on Friday, January 9, to celebrate Holy Mass for the Baptism of the Lord. Over 5,000 people attended the celebration at the "Baptism of the Lord" church, commemorating the start of Christ's ministry. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, with Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso concelebrating. Attendees were sprinkled with holy water collected from the Jordan River during the liturgy. Diplomats from 10 countries and representatives from various Eastern Catholic Churches were among those present.
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Bethany Beyond the Jordan, or Al-Maghtas, is the traditional site of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, referenced in the Gospel of John (Jn 1:28, 10:40).1 Archaeological finds include Byzantine-era churches, a baptistery, hermits' caves, and mosaics, with the area inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2015.1
Early Christians preserved the site's memory despite persecution, leading to churches built from the 5th-6th centuries, such as the Church of St. John the Baptist and Basilica of the Holy Trinity.1 A monastery on Elijah’s Hill (Tell al-Kharrar) honors the prophet Elijah.1 The Catholic Church of the Baptism of the Lord, the largest in Jordan, was consecrated in January 2025 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin.1 2 3
Four popes have visited: Paul VI in 1964, John Paul II in 2000, Benedict XVI in 2009, and Francis in 2014.2 John Paul II blessed the site during the Jubilee Year.2 Jordan's King Abdullah recently invited Pope Leo XIV to visit.2
Over 5,000 pilgrims from Jordan and abroad attended Mass at the Baptism church for the Feast of the Lord's Baptism, presided by Bishop Iyad Twal with concelebrants from multiple rites.2 3 The event featured Jordan River holy water asperges; rain symbolized blessing for water-scarce Jordan.2 3 International visitors included a Vatican delegation led by Andrea Tornielli.2
Bishop Twal relayed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa's observations from Gaza of optimism for lasting peace.2 3 Prayers focused on Jerusalem, Palestine, Gaza, and the Holy Land from this holy site.3 Twal emphasized baptism revealing God's love without barriers.2
Catholic leaders urged global pilgrims to visit the site, Jordan's "new identity," especially ahead of the 2030 jubilee on Jesus' baptism.2 3 "Come to the Holy Land, to the Jordan River, and be blessed by its waters," Twal invited.2 3 The event marked the 26th annual Catholic Pilgrimage Day, supported by Jordanian authorities.2 3
Jordan hosted modern papal trips first and features key Gospel events.2 Tornielli highlighted its Old and New Testament significance.2
Assess Catholic liturgical theology of baptism at Al‑Maghtas
Al-Maghtas, known biblically as Bethany beyond the Jordan and archaeologically as Wadi Al-Kharrar, holds immense spiritual importance as the site where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, marking the beginning of his public ministry. This location, situated on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, embodies the historical and theological foundation of the sacrament of Baptism, as affirmed through papal pilgrimages and the Church's liturgical commemorations. Pope John Paul II's Jubilee visit in 2000 included a prayer invoking the power of the Holy Spirit at this very site, emphasizing Baptism's role in liberating humanity from sin, rebirth as children of God, and incorporation into Christ's Body. Similarly, Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 Mass in Amman referenced the Holy Land's baptismal heritage, linking it to salvation through Christ alone. These events underscore Al-Maghtas not merely as an archaeological treasure but as a locus for reliving the theophany at Christ's Baptism—heaven opening, the Spirit descending as a dove, and the Father's voice proclaiming Jesus as the beloved Son—a mystery echoed in the liturgical feasts closing Christmastide.
Catholic liturgical theology views Baptism as the "gateway to life in the Spirit" (vitae spiritualis ianua), freeing the recipient from sin, incorporating them into the Church, and enabling participation in other sacraments. The essential rite involves immersing the candidate in water or pouring water while invoking the Trinity: "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" in the Latin Church, or a variant like "The servant of God, N., is baptized..." in Eastern liturgies, with triple immersion at each Person's invocation. This Trinitarian immersion directly evokes Christ's Baptism in the Jordan, where water symbolized purification and death to sin, prefiguring sacramental rebirth.
At Al-Maghtas, the site's proximity to Eastern Christian traditions amplifies this theology. The East Syrian Rite, historically influential in regions like Jordan, integrates Baptism within the Eucharistic liturgy: after preparatory prayers, Psalms (e.g., 44, 109, 131), lections, and Creed, the font is blessed, oil mixed, and candidates—signed on breast and anointed—are immersed thrice with the Trinitarian formula, followed immediately by Confirmation via signing between the eyes. This sequence mirrors the ancient practice of adult initiation, with Baptism as purification and Confirmation as perfection in the Spirit, paralleling the dove's descent at Al-Maghtas. The De Benedictionibus further details font blessings without Baptism, using antiphons like "You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation" (Is 12:3), apt for pilgrimage sites evoking Jordan's waters. Such rites affirm Baptism's necessity for salvation, regenerating infants and adults alike into divine sonship.
The liturgy at Al-Maghtas-inspired celebrations reveals Baptism's transformative power. Papal homilies on the Lord's Baptism feast portray it as Christ's humble solidarity with sinners, fulfilling righteousness through immersion—a model for penitential renewal. John the Baptist's rite was preparatory, but Christ's instituted the sacrament proper, birthing the Church at Easter yet rooted here. Theologically, Baptism clothes the baptized in Christ, making them temples of the Spirit and sharers in his mission, as emphasized in infant baptisms during these feasts: oil of catechumens for strength against evil, chrism for consecration, and candle for faith's light.
This theology counters modern dilutions, insisting on water's material efficacy with the Word, rejecting mere symbolism. At Al-Maghtas, popular piety harmonizes with liturgy via asperges and homilies on baptismal symbols, reminding the faithful of rebirth amid Jordan's flowing witness. Pope Benedict XVI urged parents to see Baptism as their "first educational decision," quenching thirst at God's true font (Is 55), lest they seek unsatisfying sources.
While Al-Maghtas inspires, Catholic theology cautions against illicit baptisms there—valid Baptism requires proper form, matter, and minister (priest or deacon), not tourism. Eastern immersion rites, fitting the site's riverine context, take precedence locally per CCEO, yet Latin pouring remains valid universally. Divergences, like oil in East Syrian Confirmation, highlight legitimate diversity without compromising essence. For unbaptized infants, hope in God's mercy prevails, urging timely sacramental gift.
In summary, Catholic liturgical theology at Al-Maghtas celebrates Baptism as Trinitarian immersion into Christ's Pasch, rebirth from Jordan's waters, and mission launch—vivified by rites, papal witness, and the site's enduring call to divine sonship.