A year after he called Pope Francis "disgraceful" for criticising his intention to build a wall along the Mexican border, Donald Trump was all smiles for his first meeting with the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

The US President appeared to be on his best behaviour and keen to bury the hatchet, after the highly public spat with the Latin American pontiff over his plans for a border wall.

The Pope had said that anyone intent on building walls rather than bridges was “not Christian”, a remark that the then Republican candidate branded “disgraceful”.

But that was largely forgotten – or at least ignored – when the President swept up to St Peter’s Square in a 50-vehicle motorcade, riding in the heavily-armoured black car nicknamed “The Beast”.