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| Pope meets parents of Madeleine | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The parents of abducted four-year-old Madeleine McCann are attending 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. | 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 couple's two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, have been left in the care of relatives. | The couple's two-year-old 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Mr and Mrs McCann, both 38, are attending a general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, where they are sitting in the front row, normally reserved for dignitaries. | |
| They 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. | 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." |