But Francis' trip to Jordan, the West Bank and Israel has already been overshadowed by controversy over plans to celebrate Mass in a location revered by Orthodox Jews.
The book is a collection of essays by renowned scholars on the history, archaeology, aesthetics and politics of the place that Jews revere as the location of their two ancient temples, and that now houses the Al Aksa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
The recent violence has been stoked partly by Palestinian anger at what they see as increased Jewish visits to the Jerusalem holy site, also revered in Judaism as the location of two destroyed biblical temples.
Tensions have soared over the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City, which is Islam's third-holiest site and also revered by Jews as the location of two ancient temples.
Violent incidents have become a daily occurrence in the West Bank, Israel and Jerusalem in the past two months as an increasing number of Jews visit East Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, which is also revered by Jews as the location of two destroyed biblical-era temples.
Increasing numbers of religious Jews visiting the compound - which is Islam's holiest site outside Saudi Arabia and revered in Judaism as the location of two destroyed biblical temples - led to Palestinian allegations that Israel is violating a "status quo" under which Jewish prayer there is banned.
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, who is due to hold separate meetings this week with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, said on Monday it was vital to clarify the status around the compound, also revered by Jews as the location of two destroyed biblical temples.
Israel says it is keeping the status quo at the holy compound, which is also revered by Jews as the location of two destroyed biblical Jewish temples.
The violence has been stoked partly by Palestinians' anger at what they see as increased Jewish visits to the Jerusalem holy site, also revered in Judaism as the location of two destroyed biblical temples.
Also stoking the violence has been Muslim opposition to increased Israeli access to Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque complex, which is the third holiest site in Islam and is also revered in Judaism as the location of two biblical temples.
The unrest has been triggered in part by Palestinians' anger over what they see as increased Jewish encroachment on Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, which is also revered by Jews as the location of two destroyed biblical Jewish temples.
