Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive in Israel, on the second leg of his tour of the Middle East.
Over the next five days he will visit Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He arrives with heavy historical baggage - such as his own personal journey, from teenage membership of the Hitler Youth to the Vatican.
There are also the continuing tensions between the Church and Israel over the role of the Vatican in World War II.
Israeli ownership of property in Jerusalem is also an issue.
Pope Benedict angered many Jews earlier this year when he re-admitted into the church a British bishop who has denied the scope of the Holocaust.
Apart from celebrating Mass in Jerusalem and Nazareth, Pope Benedict will also visit some hugely sensitive sites - the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem on Monday and, later in the week in Jerusalem, the two most sacred places for Muslims and Jews.
He will also visit a Palestinian refugee camp close to Bethlehem.
The Pope's words are always scrutinised - none more so than on this week's trip.
Over the next five days he will visit Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He arrives with heavy historical baggage - such as his own personal journey, from teenage membership of the Hitler Youth to the Vatican.
There are also the continuing tensions between the Church and Israel over the role of the Vatican in World War II.
Israeli ownership of property in Jerusalem is also an issue.
Pope Benedict angered many Jews earlier this year when he re-admitted into the church a British bishop who has denied the scope of the Holocaust.
Apart from celebrating Mass in Jerusalem and Nazareth, Pope Benedict will also visit some hugely sensitive sites - the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem on Monday and, later in the week in Jerusalem, the two most sacred places for Muslims and Jews.
He will also visit a Palestinian refugee camp close to Bethlehem.
The Pope's words are always scrutinised - none more so than on this week's trip.
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