Madeleine's parents prepare to meet the Pope
Madeleine McCann’s parents will make their highest profile appeal yet for their daughter’s safe return as they meet the Pope for prayers and support today.
Kate and Gerry McCann said they were nervous about meeting the pontiff because it was one of the best chances of spreading the message about their abducted child.
Mr McCann described the keenly anticipated encounter at the Vatican as “hugely important”.
The couple are expected to be introduced to the Holy Father at the end of the weekly General Audience in St Peter’s Square.
Mrs McCann – who is particularly devout – wants to give Pope Benedict XVI a photograph of Madeleine and ask him to pray for her.
Their 24-hour trip to Rome is the first of several visits the McCanns intend to make across Europe to promote their daughter’s case.
Twenty seven days after Madeleine was taken from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz, there are still no clear leads in the case.
Last night the couple left Portugal together for the first time, leaving two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie with Mr McCann’s sister Trish Cameron and her husband Sandy.
After meeting the Pope, the couple will hold a news conference and hand out missing posters of Madeleine in Italian.
Mrs McCann, who still takes Madeleine’s favourite toy Cuddle Cat everywhere she goes, said of the visit: “I think it will really help us.”
Her husband said: “Meeting the Pope is so potentially hugely important to what we are trying to achieve as a family.
“We never for one moment thought we would get such publicity, but it means we can get our message across.
“This is a huge privilege and absolutely brilliant that we are having the opportunity even to be in the audience.
“If he did speak to us, then we would be delighted.”
But he added that the trip was “tinged” with mixed emotions.
“If we were doing this if Madeleine hadn’t been abducted, we would have been really excited, but the only reason we are here is because Madeleine is missing.”
The couple are being escorted throughout their trip by consular staff and Foreign Office officials.
The British Ambassador to the Holy See, Francis Campbell, hosted their overnight stay at the British Residency in central Rome.
The audience with the Pope is expected to start at 10.30am and the McCanns will sit in the front row, known as the prima fila, normally reserved for dignitaries.
