Pope Benedict XVI called for the reconciliation of Jews and Christians and warned against "religion when it is corrupted by ignorance and prejudice, violence and abuse" during his visit to holy sites in Jordan.
Jordan's tech-savvy Queen Rania is offering her insight on the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to her country on Twitter, the popular micro-blogging website. Jordan is the first stop in the Pope's one-week tour of the Middle East.
As he sets off on a tricky tour of the Holy Land, Pope Benedict XVI will be expected to address a number of thorny issues and make amends for recent faux pas. We take a look at the pontiff's agenda.
After arriving in Amman, Jordan, on the first day of his tour of the Middle East, Pope Benedict XVI said that religious freedom is a fundamental human right and that he had "profound respect" for Islam.
Iraq's Chaldean Christian community has shrunk from 1 million to around 500,000 since the start of the war. Many of those who escaped found refuge in Jordan, where they strive to perpetuate their traditions.
Pope Benedict XVI begins his week-long visit to the Middle East Friday, making his first stop in Amman, Jordan. During his visit, dubbed a "Holy Land pilgrimage", the pontiff is expected to navigate a host of tricky issues.
Pope Benedict XVI is set to start a weeklong visit to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories next week, his first since becoming pope in 2005. The pontiff said he was making the trip as a “pilgrim of peace” in a region marked by mistrust.
Japan has agreed to assist Jordan with its nuclear energy programme during a three-day visit by King Abdullah II (right) to Tokyo. The Middle East kingdom plans to have its first nuclear plant operational by 2017.
The Pope announced he will visit "The Holy Land" - Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan - to promote peace in May. The trip follows the controversial lifting of the excommunication of ultra-conservative British bishop Richard Williamson.
