Pope Francis will be meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Thursday. According to Vatican Radio, it will be the first meeting of the Jordanian King with the Holy Father.
The two will most likely discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria which has affected neighboring Jordan with an influx of refugees entering daily. Several news reports stated that a meeting of military chiefs from Western and Muslim countries will take place this week to weigh in military action.
Tensions have been on the rise since reports that chemical weapons were used against civilians. Despite denials from the Syrian government, many Western leaders believe that the government of Basir al-Assad is behind the chemical attack. UN inspection teams are currently in Damascus investigating the attack.
Pope Francis has made repeated calls for an end to the conflict, most recently on Sunday, where he stated he was moved by the “terrible images of recent days” to once again appeal for all fighting to cease.
“I appeal to the international community to show itself to be more responsive to this tragic situation and to do all it can to help the beloved Syrian nation find a solution to a war that sows destruction and death,” the Holy Father said during his Sunday Angelus address.
The last meeting King Abdullah had with a Supreme Pontiff was in 2009 when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI visited Amman during his Apostolic trip to the Holy Land.
