‘Life Stitched Back Together’: The Church and Refugees in Jordan
July 15, 2026
In recent decades, the world has been faced with a refugee crisis. With the instability and danger presented by the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, millions have been forced to flee their homes. Men, women, and children have been forced into exile with mothers and fathers desperate for a roof over their heads and food to feed their children. Many countries have responded to this with closed borders and discrimination, doing everything possible to prevent refugees from finding safety on their soil.
In the face of this, some in the church have gone to extraordinary lengths to help those who need it most. Father Mario Cornioli, a Catholic priest originally from central Italy, has spent over a decade helping Iraqi refugees find ways to support themselves. Cornioli works out of the city of Amman, the capital of Jordan, where he has spearheaded projects to give refugees well paid and dignified work.
Jordan has generally welcomed refugees from neighboring Iraq, but due to its high unemployment and poverty rate, refugees are not legally allowed to hold formal jobs. To work around this, Cornioli began developing programs through the Habibi Association to give refugees cash in exchange for participation in trade training programs. The Habibi Association was founded by Cornioli in 2013 to support the Hogar Niño Dios shelter for disabled children in Bethlehem and officially began to assist Iraqi refugees in finding work in 2016, with the birth of the Rafedin Fashion Atelier. Rafedin Fashion Atelier was created with the help of Italian fashion designers Rosaria Mininno and Antonella Mazzoni, who left their jobs in Italy to come teach their craft in Jordan.
Cornioli and the others dedicated themselves to helping young women learn to expertly design and sew garments that could be sold by the organization. In exchange, the Habibi Association paid them a salary and covered all their living expenses in Jordan. With support from the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the French embassy in Jordan, the small workshop has become self-sustaining and has helped more than 150 women support themselves and their families.
Cornioli did not stop with the Fashion Atelier. Intensely persecuted by ISIS, over a million Christians and other minorities have been forced out of Iraq. Many aim for a final destination in countries like Canada or Australia, where they have family members already residing, but have to remain in Jordan for several years until they obtain permission to immigrate. With this many Christians trapped without work in Jordan, Cornioli continues to commit himself to aiding them as they await a more permanent home. Started just one year after the Fashion Atelier, the Mar Youssef Pizza restaurant has trained young Iraqi men and women to cook and serve authentic Italian food in the heart of Jordan’s capital. In addition to cooking and serving over a dozen pizza and pasta dishes, Cornioli established the Forma JO project and the JOlato projects, utilizing the sheep’s milk of southern Jordan to make homemade Italian cheese and gelato. Through these programs, Cornioli has helped hundreds of refugees rise out of poverty.
In addition to aiding refugees, the Habibi Association has also left a lasting impact on the local community of Amman. Cornioli’s programs have provided steady salaries for local women in need, and has helped them gain access to healthcare and education.
With such crises continuing to beset the Middle East, some have given up on the hope of solving the ongoing problems of the region. Yet Father Mario Cornioli, led by an unshakable faith in God, has proven what a revolutionary role individuals can play in aiding those who need it most. For this, let us pray.
Dear Lord, in this time of conflict, let us forgo hatred and division, and help us relieve the suffering of those in need. Let all people remember our shared humanity, and care for each other as you have called upon us to do. Thank you for the kind people who already have helped work towards peace, and may you let more of us do the same. Amen.
Habibi Association
Rafedin Fashion Atelier
Mar Youssef Pizza
About the Author: Jack Leary is a Junior at American University, majoring in Political Science and History. He is passionate about humanitarian advocacy, and protecting the freedom and dignity of all people across the Middle East and wider world.