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McCanns to attend papal audience | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The parents of abducted four-year-old Madeleine McCann are to attend an audience with Pope Benedict in Rome. | |
Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, flew from Portugal in tycoon Sir Philip Green's private jet, which he put at their disposal. | |
The pair's twins, Sean and Amelie, have been left in the care of relatives. | The pair's twins, Sean and Amelie, have been left in the care of relatives. |
The couple are also due to visit Spain, the Netherlands, Morocco and Germany to raise awareness of their daughter. | |
Madeleine disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on 3 May as her parents ate dinner at a nearby restaurant. | |
Meeting the Pope is potentially hugely important to what we are trying to achieve as a family Kate McCann | Meeting the Pope is potentially hugely important to what we are trying to achieve as a family Kate McCann |
This week the family released the last video clips taken of their daughter before her abduction. | This week the family released the last video clips taken of their daughter before her abduction. |
Meanwhile, Portuguese police have received hundreds of calls after they released a description of a man seen near the McCanns' holiday flat. | Meanwhile, Portuguese police have received hundreds of calls after they released a description of a man seen near the McCanns' holiday flat. |
But the family said on Tuesday that police had got a crucial fact wrong in the description of the man. | But the family said on Tuesday that police had got a crucial fact wrong in the description of the man. |
The height of the man given on the Portuguese press release was 170cm (5ft 7ins) but it mistakenly appeared as 5ft 10ins in the English version. | The height of the man given on the Portuguese press release was 170cm (5ft 7ins) but it mistakenly appeared as 5ft 10ins in the English version. |
Spokesman for the McCanns, Clarence Mitchell, said the family were happy that a description had been released but hoped every detail "would be absolutely accurate in every respect". | Spokesman for the McCanns, Clarence Mitchell, said the family were happy that a description had been released but hoped every detail "would be absolutely accurate in every respect". |
Mixed emotions | Mixed emotions |
On arrival at Ciampino airport on Tuesday evening, the McCanns were met by the British ambassador to the Holy See, Francis Campbell, and a representative of the Catholic Church. | |
The McCanns decided their two-year-old twins were too young to take on the trip to Italy, and left them with Mr McCann's sister, Trish Cameron, and her husband Sandy. | The McCanns decided their two-year-old twins were too young to take on the trip to Italy, and left them with Mr McCann's sister, Trish Cameron, and her husband Sandy. |
Retail tycoon Mr Green, who owns Top Shop, had offered the couple his 12-seater Gulfstream jet after hearing about the abduction. | Retail tycoon Mr Green, who owns Top Shop, had offered the couple his 12-seater Gulfstream jet after hearing about the abduction. |
After attending the general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, the McCanns, both 38, will then have a private conversation with the pontiff on the steps of St Peter's. | After attending the general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, the McCanns, both 38, will then have a private conversation with the pontiff on the steps of St Peter's. |
Mrs McCann plans to give the Pope a photograph of Madeleine. | Mrs McCann plans to give the Pope a photograph of Madeleine. |
The McCanns left their twins with family as they departed for Italy | The McCanns left their twins with family as they departed for Italy |
The couple will stay at the residency of the British ambassador to the Holy See. | The couple will stay at the residency of the British ambassador to the Holy See. |
The Pope is expected to "prominently" refer to Madeleine during prayers. | The Pope is expected to "prominently" refer to Madeleine during prayers. |
Mr McCann said they were feeling nervous: "Meeting the Pope is so potentially hugely important to what we are trying to achieve as a family. | Mr McCann said they were feeling nervous: "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." | "We never for one moment thought we would get such publicity, but it means we can get our message across." |
The couple, who are both Catholic, said they had mixed emotions about coming to the Vatican. | |
Mr McCann said: "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." | Mr McCann said: "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." |