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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanians from across the board and guests are waiting with anticipation to attend the Holy Mass to be held by Pope Francis at Amman International Stadium on Saturday , Jordan Times.

Muslims and Christians from different denominations interviewed by The Jordan Times were planning to seize the “historic opportunity”.

Mohammad Hashlamon said that he and his wife are “enthusiastic” to attend the mass and would not miss an opportunity like this.

Another Muslim, Maan Zayyad, lives in the Philippines and is married to a Catholic Filipina was making plans to fly to Amman, alone.

“I admire the character of the Pope and I follow his news. He is a modest religious leader who loves the poor and the vulnerable,” Zayyad told The Jordan Times via a message through social media.

Jordanians are expected to flock to the mass venue in thousands, with officials expecting the total number to reach 50,000.

Would-be attendees have obtained their “free tickets” from Catholic churches across the Kingdom.

Jordanians have been arranging themselves in groups, who will be provided with free transportation by Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) and individual churches.

Taimur Awabdeh told The Jordan Times that Christians, mostly Catholic, along with followers of the Orthodox Church, have jointly made plans to come together to the mass in Amman on Saturday.

They come from several villages near Karak, around 140km south of Amman, where there is a Christian population.

“The faithful always want to see the Pope but they cannot afford to join masses at the Vatican or any other place. Now the Pontiff is here and we cannot miss such a great occasion,” Awabdeh said.

“His visit encourages us as faithful to cling to our identity as ‘the salt of the earth and the beacons’ as the Bible describes the followers of the Christ.”

Ramez Debes, a Catholic priest based in Aqaba, 360km from Amman, said that JTB has arranged buses to take his congregation to Amman and back to Aqaba.

“We are almost 30 persons, including eight children who will have their first commduring the mass,” among 1,400 children from all over Jordan.

“The children just cannot believe that they will see the same Pope they see on TV. They are so excited.”

Raed Haddad, from the central town of Madaba, is coming to Amman with 20 members of his family, with transportation provided by the local church.

His German wife, he says, cannot go because she has to take care of the children. Although she is sad for not being able to join the group, she has another reason to rejoice.

“The visit by the Pope has assured her and her family back in Germany that Jordan is a safe place. That is good news because she really loves Jordan and wants to remain here.”

From Anjara near Ajloun, around 60 persons are coming from the northern town, around 65km from Amman, said Hala Ayoub, an instructor.

“At first I was reluctant to sign up, as it would be an exhausting trip and huge crowds flocking to the same location. On a second thought, I decided that it would be a blessing to be there”.

A Lebanese guest, Munir Jaber, an interior architect, feels the same.

“I left everything behind and I will follow the Pope to everywhere he goes in Jordan, if I can.”

He will not be alone. “A big group of my friends are coming for one day. They will arrive on Saturday and leave early Sunday,” he said.

For Rawan Deibes from Amman: “It is an amazing feeling that we are in the heart of the Holy See as Christians in the Middle East and especially in Jordan.”