BBC: Pope Benedict XVI has visited the reputed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jordan, on the third day of his Middle East tour.
The Pope arrived in a motorcade of electric vehicles to the site at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan.
Earlier, the Pope held Mass for thousands of people at a football stadium in the Jordanian capital Amman.
Jordan's 200,000 Roman Catholics, and other Christians, were given a special holiday to enable them to attend.
The Pope was accompanied to the alleged baptismal site by King Abdullah of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania. He blessed the cornerstones of two churches on the site.
'Courage of conviction'
But the BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the 20,000-seat stadium was not completely full.
Our correspondent says the situation for the dwindling Catholic minority in the Middle East has worsened considerably since the last Papal visit to Jordan nine years ago.
He says many Catholic families have emigrated. >>> David Willey | Sunday, May 10, 2009
