Pence tells pope, "You have made me a hero"

Pence, a former altar boy who was brought up in a strict Irish Catholic family but later became an evangelical Christian, met with Francis for about an hour in the papal library Francis uses to meet official visitors.

It was twice as long as the meeting between Francis and Trump in the same frescoed room in May, 2017.

"I want to extend the warmest greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump, who so enjoyed his visit here," Pence told the pope as the two sat across the papal desk, before reporters and photographers were ushered out of the room.

Pence was accompanied by his wife Karen and his daughter-in-law Sarah,

As he was leaving the papal library Trump said "Thank you, Your Holiness, you have made me a hero ... God bless you."