They are understood to have flown to Rome by private jet for the blessing by John Paul II almost two decades ago.

A source told The Sun On Sunday: "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."

Our picture shows Epstein, wearing a dark suit and red-patterned tie, kneeling at the Pope's feet with his ex-lover Maxwell, who is in a striped suit jacket and open-collar blue shirt.

Hands clenched together, they are both smiling and gazing into the eyes of John Paul II, who led the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.

The seated Pontiff has his arms raised in the photo, believed to have been taken in 2003.