Jordan’s King hosting conference on challenges of ME Christians

September 02, 2013 - The Heads of Christian Churches in the Middle East are starting a 2-day meeting on Tuesday in Jordanian capital, Amman, sponsored by King Abdullah II of Jordan on the theme, “The Challenges Facing Arab Christians.” Some 70 patriarchs, their delegates, bishops and priests of all the Christian Churches that have their roots in the region will discuss various issues, including developments in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan. The Holy See will be represented by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. When Pope Francis for the first time receive King Abdullah recently on Aug. 29, he stressed that that dialogue was the “only option” to end the conflict in Syria. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, neighbouring Jordan has seen the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees. It fears Western intervention will bring more instability to the region. The country, with its small but dynamic Christian minority, has also been actively promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue in recent years.