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Jordan’s King Abdullah and Queen Rania Hold First Audience With Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

The meeting spotlighted Jordan’s role as custodian of Christian holy sites, with an invitation for a papal visit to Al‑Maghtas.

Overview

  • The private audience took place Tuesday at the Apostolic Palace and was the Jordanian royals’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his May inauguration.
  • According to Jordan’s Roya News, discussions covered Vatican–Jordan relations, peace issues in the Middle East, and Jordan’s stewardship of Christian holy places.
  • Roya News also reported that King Abdullah invited the pope to visit Al‑Maghtas, the UNESCO‑listed site in Jordan revered as the place of Jesus’s baptism.
  • Queen Rania observed Vatican protocol in an all‑black ensemble with a veil, which Vanity Fair framed as aligning with Pope Leo’s more traditional approach to dress and ceremony.
  • Town & Country reported that Pope Leo is expected to receive King Charles and Queen Camilla later in October for events tied to the 2025 Jubilee.