Madeleine's parents pray with Pope

Kate and Gerry McCann both shed tears at times during the general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

But afterwards they insisted it had been a positive experience and provided great strength as they continued the hunt for their missing daughter. Four-year-old Madeleine was snatched 27 days ago from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

On Wednesday her parents sat just 20 yards away from the Holy Father during the religious ceremony before speaking to him for a little less than 30 seconds. He prayed with both of them, while Mr McCann bowed and kissed his hand. Looking solemnly at the couple, he leant forward to bless a photograph of Madeleine.

Mr McCann said afterwards: "It was more personal than I could ever imagine it could have been. There was recognition immediately, looking at Madeleine's photograph. His touch, words and thoughts were more tender than we could have thought."

His wife added: "It was very emotional but it was a very positive experience really, it has been very helpful to us. He was very kind, he said he would pray for us and our family and continue to have faith for us."

The couple said they had mixed emotions about being at The Vatican, because it was tinged with sadness that Madeleine is still missing. Mr McCann said: "In other circumstances of course it would be the highlight for any Catholic to meet the Pope. It is tainted with the very marked realisation that our daughter is still missing."

Mr McCann said the most difficult aspect of Madeleine's abduction was not knowing where she is. "We're still in the middle of a race and we do not know how long it is going to be. I do not know how we will have changed but I think it is fair to say we will never be the same again."

The couple, both 38, wore sombre dark suits for their encounter with Pope Benedict XVI, while Mrs McCann carried black rosary beads alongside two pictures of her daughter. One of them, showing Madeleine dressed in pink, is the main photograph used for an appeal poster which has been seen around the world. The strain of losing their daughter was clear to see.

At one point in Wednesday's ceremony, an English-speaking priest issued a prayer on behalf of the Pope to the 35,000-strong crowd, saying: "In a special way his blessing goes to your children and your loved ones."