This is the moment the Pope stopped his car in St Peter's Square, of Vatican City, to accept a cup of tea from a youngster in the crowd who offered it to him as he drove past.

Pope Francis was in the famous Popemobile when he spotted some youngsters in the crowd offering him 'mate', a traditional tea from his home country, Argentina.

Seeing what was being offered, the Pope ordered the driver to stop and in a potential security risk, accepted the unchecked beverage from a member of his security team.

This is the moment the Pope stopped his car in St Peter's Square, of Vatican City, to accept a cup of tea from a youngster in the crowd who offered it to him as he drove past

Shockingly, and to the amazement of the crowd, the 81-year-old pontiff then took several sips of the bitter tea before giving his verdict, proclaiming 'It's good.'

The Pope then passed the cup back to a member of his staff, who returned it to the stunned youngsters.

The hot beverage is drunk in social settings in the Pope's native Argentina, with everybody sharing a cup and a straw.

It is a bitter tea drunk by millions across South America and is usually sipped through a straw.

Shockingly, and to the amazement of the crowd, the 81-year-old pontiff took several sips of the bitter tea before giving his verdict, proclaiming 'It's good'

The crowds had gathered in preparation for the Papal General Audience, held in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City on Wednesdays - where visitors get the chance to 'see the Pope' and receive the Papal Blessing.

As well as taking time to drink tea with the masses, the Pope also let children ride alongside him in the car as it drove around the Vatican.

Engaging with the impressed audience again, the Pope also stopped to hold a shirt from his favourite football team, San Lorenzo de Almagro in Buenos Aires.

In the General Audience that followed the Pope focused his speech around the importance of silence in mass, criticising those who use the silences to 'gossip.'