King Abdullah II expressed his best wishes to Jordanian and Palestinian Christians on the occasions of Christmas and New Year, at a meeting with the Church leaders of Jordan and Jerusalem and Islamic Waqf representatives; commending the dedication of the Churches of Jerusalem to the Pact of Omar Al-Khattab and coexistence, based on the historic and legal Status Quo; and reaffirms the commitment to the religious and historical responsibility to safeguard Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.
During the meeting, King Abdullah II bestowed the Jerusalem Patriarchate, represented by Patriarch Theophilos III, with the First State Centennial Medal, in appreciation of the historical significance and religious leading role of the Patriarchate in preserving the Christian presence in the Holy City.