On May 8th Pope Benedict XVI is expected to begin his journey to the Holy Land.

The Papal itinerary includes stops In Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories.

 This is the first visit of Pope Benedict XVI's to the Holy Land since becoming Pope and it will include visits with Christian community leaders, Moslem leaders, Palestinians and Israelis.

 Several masses will be held at a number of different holy sites throughout the region.

According to our Vatican sourse, the Papal itinerary will begin in Jordan on May 8th and will include stops at Moslem mosques.

Pope Benedict's XVI itinerary is to also include:

May 9th - Visit Mt. Nebo and other mosques in Jordan

May 10th - Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate Eucharest with the Catholic Community in a stadium in Amman and he is scheduled to visit a baptism site along the Jordan River

May 11th -Pope Benedict XVI will arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport and he will meet Shimon Peres and visit Yad Vashem in Jerusalem

May 12th - Pope Benedict XVI will meet with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, visit the Western Wall, the Cenacle at Mount Zion and meet with both the Ashkenazi and Sephardi chief rabbis. The Pope will preside over a mass at Jesophats Valley in Jerusalem

May 13th - Pope Benedict XVI will visit Bethlehem and meet Palestinian Authority President Mohammed Abbas; and he will preside over mass at Mangar Square. A visit at a local Palestinian refugee camp is also planned.

May 14th - Pope tBenedict XVI will visit the Galilee travel to Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, where he will celebrate mass at the Mount of Precipace, overlooking the Jezreel Valley.

May 15th - Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before leaving Israel.