Maddys parents to meet pope

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann will go to Rome to meet the Pope in a high-profile visit designed to offer them support and raise awareness of their daughter's plight.The final arrangements are being put in place, and barring any last minute hitches, Kate and Gerry McCann expect to meet the Pontiff on Wednesday.Mrs McCann is a devout Catholic and the couple have leant heavily on their faith throughout the last three-and-a-half weeks.They have attended church regularly and visited Portugal's holiest shrine last week.The couple will attend a general audience in Rome and it is hoped Pope Benedict XVI will refer to Madeleine during prayers in St Peter's Square. They feel the trip will "help them spiritually".The visit will be the first of a number the couple are planning to make to countries including Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.It is 25 days since Madeleine, now aged four, was taken from her bed as she slept in the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve.On Monday morning the couple made their now routine trip to the nearby creche to drop off twins Sean and Amelie while the details of their trip were arranged.They have received two offers of private jets to use. One is thought to have been offered by multi-millionaire British tycoon Philip Green.Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has spoken to Mr McCann about their visit to the Pope, his office said.