The parents of missing Madeleine McCann will travel to Rome today to prepare for their meeting with the Pope.
This afternoon Kate and Gerry McCann will leave the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where their daughter was abducted 26 days ago.
It is the first time Mrs McCann has left Portugal since Madeleine disappeared. The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, are expected to use British retail tycoon Philip Green's private jet for the trip.
They will be part of a general audience at the Vatican and will be introduced to the Pope at the end of the session.
Mrs McCann wants to give Pope Benedict XVI a photograph of her daughter and the head of the Catholic church is understood to be happy to accept such a gift.
After their meeting, they will hold a news conference for the international media to keep the spotlight on Madeleine's abduction.
A composite of footage released by the parents of Madeleine McCann shows her in pink trousers boarding the plane to Portugal
The visit comes on the day the couple released new video footage of Madeleine captured on a family friend's mobile phone.
The two short clips show her sitting on an airport bus and boarding the flight to Portugal. In the clips blonde Madeleine, now four, can be seen wearing pink shorts, a light pink top and trainers and holding a pink Barbie rucksack.
Throughout their ordeal the McCanns, devout Catholics, have leaned heavily on their faith.
They have attended church regularly, visited Portugal's holiest shrine last week and believe the trip to Rome will be spiritually uplifting.
It is hoped the Pope will refer to Madeleine during prayers in St Peter's Square. The visit will be the first of a number the couple are planning to make to countries including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to raise awareness about their daughter.
Support for the McCanns has been worldwide with the Find Madeleine site receiving more than 135 million hits.
As police continue hunting for her abductor, specialists have been brought in from the UK.
Techniques used in the Soham case to find 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, as well as their killer Ian Huntley, are being employed in the Algarve.
Telephone experts are using triangulation points to try to pinpoint all the calls made in the Ocean Club resort, where the family were staying, on the evening of May 3rd when Madeleine was taken.
A suspected sighting in Morocco has been ruled out by Interpol after they reinterviewed the woman who claimed to have seen a little girl similar to Madeleine at a petrol station.
But a small contingent of officers from Leicestershire Police are still in the north African country.
One theory being considered is that Madeleine was taken away by boat, and the manager of the Lagos marina told yesterday how there was "constant police activity".
Four people at the marina have been questioned, including three Britons.
PA