A newly-unearthed photo shows billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell being bless...
A newly-unearthed photo shows billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell being blessed by the Pope.
The image shows the former financier and his ex-partner holding a private audience with John Paul II at the Vatican almost 20 years ago.
According to the Sun on Sunday, which obtained the snap, the pair are believed to have flown to Rome on Epstein's 'Lolita Express' jet for the meeting, said to have taken place in 2003.
It is the same aircraft federal prosecutors in the US believe was used by Epstein to shuttle young sex trafficking victims between his sprawling homes in New York, New Mexico, Paris, the US Virgin Islands and Palm Beach, where the dead pedophile owned a waterfront mansion.
A source told the paper: 'Pictures like this show just how powerful Epstein's connections were and his ability to open almost any door.
'He managed to manipulate his way into royal palaces, the White House and the Vatican, all with Maxwell by his side.'
Epstein killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for a string of sex trafficking offences in 2019, while Maxwell, 58, will stand trial later this month in New York, accused of procuring young girls for Epstein - as well as taking part in abuse herself.
Maxwell, daughter of disgraced British media and publishing Robert Maxwell, denies all charges against her.
Unearthed image shows Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell holding a private audience with John Paul II at the Vatican during his blessing almost 20 years ago
Federal prosecutors say the Lolita Express was used by Epstein to shuttle young sex trafficking victims between his sprawling homes in New York, New Mexico, Paris, the US Virgin Islands and Palm Beach, where the dead pedophile owned a waterfront mansion
Donning a dark suit, white shirt and red-patterned tie, Epstein can be seen in the photo kneeling at the Pope's feet alongside his ex-partner Maxwell, who is wearing a dark striped suit jacket and open-collar blue shirt.
The influential duo have their hands clenched together as they stare into the eyes of John Paul II and sport beaming smiles.
The holy leader was head of the Catholic Church from 1978 until 2005, when he died of heart failure.
In the photo, the seated Pontiff, who was the second-longest serving pope in modern history, can be seen raising his arms.
According to flight records, Epstein used his 'Lolita Express' jet to fly himself and Maxwell from Rome to Madrid on May 20 2003.
They were joined by French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel, pilot Pete Rathgeb and two passengers listed only as 'AM' and 'JK', reports the Sun on Sunday.
Brunel, 75, was charged with rape and sexual assualt of minors last year.
There is no suggestion Rathgeb knew of or was party to illegal activity.
While there is no record of Epstein arriving in Rome, data from the flight records place the former financier in New York on May 12 and again by May 21.
The photo with the Pope can be added to the list of images which show how Epstein and Maxwell were able to hold court with some of the world's most powerful figures.
A previously unearthed snap showed Epstein with Prince Andrew in New York's Central Park, while another now-infamous image shows Andrew with his arm around the waist of his alleged sexual assault victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre - while Maxwell is seen grinning in the background.
The photo with the Pope can be added to the list of images which show how Epstein and Maxwell were able to hold court with some of the world's most powerful figures.(Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at an event in New York in 1995)
One now-infamous image shows Andrew with his arm around the waist of his alleged sexual assault victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre - while Maxwell is seen grinning in the background (pictured right)
A previously unearthed snap shows Epstein with Prince Andrew in New York's Central Park
Ms Giuffre, 38, is suing the Queen's son at a civil court in New York over claims he sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions when she was under the age of 18.
The royal has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.
Epstein and Maxwell also had a photo-op with US President Bill Clinton back in 1993.
It comes as the Sunday Times revealed that a little black book belonging to Maxwell could provide 'compelling evidence of her guilt' at her trial.
US prosecutors claim the contacts book - labelled Government Exhibit 52 - contains potentially incriminating information including the names of her alleged victims.
The document emerged just days before Maxwell faces a six week trial at federal court in New York over alleged abuse, procurement of young women and trafficking crimes dating back decades.
She faces more than 80 years in jail if convicted on all charges.
The 97-page directory is allegedly similar to Epstein's 'black book' which contained the details of Donald Trump and Prince Andrew.
It was taken from Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, dubbed 'Pleasure Palace', by former butler Alfredo Rodriguez who tried to sell it for $50,000 in 2009.
Court papers say it has 'contact information for victims who interacted with the defendant during the relevant time period' and 'is compelling evidence of her guilt'.
Maxwell's lawyers claim the document is 'an unauthenticated hearsay document from suspect sources'.
Meanwhile Epstein's 'scheduler' and former model Adriana Ross, 38, will take the stand to testify against Maxwell, court documents show.
Ms Ross is one of four female 'co-conspirators' who was granted immunity as part of Epstein's plea deal back in 2008.
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