For more than 90 years, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land have continued to guard this place. From here, according to tradition, Moses contemplated the Promised Land before he died. A fascinating place where the figure of Moses is still venerated today by Jews, Muslims and Christians. Pilgrims and visitors contemplate the beautiful landscape of the Promised Land. But also the richness of the ancient basilica, which through the centuries tells the story of the prophet through the testimony of the first pilgrims and the art of the mosaics. On Friday 6 September, hundreds of faithful participated in the feast of the prophet Moses. The mass was presided over by Reverend Jihad Shweihat, Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan. Br BERNARD THILAGARAJAH, ofm Superior - Mount Nebo First of all, the liturgical feast falls on 4 September. For some years now, we have been moving to an early Friday that is close to this date, because Friday here is a feast day for everyone. So, in order to provide the opportunity for the local people, especially Christians, to participate, we have moved a special way today. Today two masses were celebrated with the parishes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mgr JIHAD SHWEIHAT Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan I am happy to celebrate today the Holy Mass of Saint Moses. Saint Moses, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament and almost a prophecy of Jesus Christ. Moses, the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, the new. This place brings to mind the people of the Old Testament. This land is Christian, in Jordan we are 2%. But we do not say that we are Christians or Muslims. We say how we are Jordanians, we live in the same land. We speak the same language. You see in Madaba how people live, how there is unity. Whether in the church or in the mosques because we have the same duties, but it is a country of peace, of hope. Brother Bernard and the Franciscan friars living at Mount Nebo also talk about the presence of pilgrims at the shrine and the difficulties caused by the war. Br BERNARD THILAGARAJAH, ofm Superior - Mount Nebo This is like a wave. Because of the war, the population of pilgrims or visitors has dropped by 85 per cent. Now for the last two or three days, some movement is already beginning, even a mass at three o'clock with a group of Filipinos with 38 people. Slowly they are coming back. Happy feast of St Moses. The only one who could speak face to face with God and then those people he accompanied here, tradition tells us, a handful of people who crossed the promised land. I wish you to be one of them. The people's mandate. Br IBRAHIM PIO HADAD, ofm Mount Nebo This is a holy place of the Custody. That is why pilgrims come and also many tourists come to see the holy place of the prophet Moses. People also come to this place to see the Church, which, as you see, is always open and always welcoming. We can say that because of this war situation, this is where people have come to see this other side of the Jordan. Usually when one thinks of the Holy Land one goes to the other side of the river, but here in Jordan we have very beautiful and important places for salvation history. Br AMMAR SHAHIN, ofm Mount Nebo We are three brothers and our main job is to welcome pilgrims. Then we have the care of the shrine and we have to receive the people who come, even those who are not pilgrims. We dedicate our time to all visitors to Mount Nebo. September would be a high season at Mount Nebo. But because of the war in Gaza we unfortunately get to 250, 300 people a day at most. At this time in normal times we would reach 4,000 or 5,000 people per day. Br Ammar tells us that at this time there were as many as 20 Masses a day, now only 1 a week. He also tells us about the evil of this war. Br AMMAR SHAHIN, ofm Mount Nebo All the Jordanian people feel that this war hurts everyone. We hope it will end soon because in the end it is the people who pay this bill. Let us pray for peace for the whole world.