AMMAN, Jordan (CWNews.com) - On March 20, after being welcomed to Amman, Jordan, by the country's King Abdallah, Pope John Paul II made his pilgrimage to Mount Nebo-- where, like Moses, he looked out over the Promised Land.
Situated about 15 miles southwest of Amman, in the middle of the Jordan River valley, Mount Nebo is about 2500 feet high, and from the peak one can see far into the hills of Judea and Samaria. Although the Pope's visit came on a sunny day, a bit of haze in the distance obscured the view of Bethlehem, Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the skyline of Jerusalem. But the Pope did his best to make out the various sites, aided by a local Franciscan priest who pointed out various landmarks to him.
About 20 Franciscan monks welcomed the Pope to Mount Nebo, where a small metal shelter has been built around the ruins of a 6th-century sanctuary-- which in turn was built on the site traditionally believed to be where Moses stopped to look into the Promised Land before his death. There, inside the ancient walls, the Pope and the bishops of Jordan took part in a short prayer service, and the Pope prayed on the spot marked as the burial place of Moses. A children's choir sang Latin and Arabic chants for the service. After the ceremony, the Pope greeted each youngster individually-- doing so with obvious enjoyment.
Before leaving Mount Nebo for the automobile ride back into Amman, the Pope prayed for God's help along «each step of this trip to this land-- his land.»
Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update