Amman - The Jordanian authorities put the final touches Thursday to arrangements for receiving Pope Benedict XVI, as officials and Islamic scholars voiced hope the pontiff's trip would help advance the Arab-Israeli peace process.

The pope is due to arrive in Amman Friday for a four-day visit at the beginning of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which is also due to take him also to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The pontiff is expected to be accorded a tumultuous welcome, led by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.

"This visit by His Holiness is an important history-making trip as it comes after King Abdullah II's trips to the United States and Europe for explaining the Arab peace initiative that seeks to set up a Palestinian state over the Palestinian national soil," Interior Minister Nayef al-Qadi said.

He referred to King Abdullah's talks on April 21 with US President Barack Obama and on Wednesday in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The US and German leaders voiced strong support for the two-state solution as as means of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Benedict is scheduled to bless the cornerstone of the Madaba University and visit Mount Nepo, where Moses looked to the holy land before dying.

In the meantime, pro-government Islamic scholars have welcomed the pope's visit to Jordan, expressing the hope the visit from the head of the Roman Catholic Church could alleviate some of the negative stereotypes of Islam and Muslims provoked by the "war on terror".

During his visit to Jordan, the Pope is scheduled to meet with Islamic scholars and heads of Jordanian universities at the King Hussein Mosque. (dpa)