Pope Francis, a big football fan, received an unusual gift on Monday from the Prime Minister of France - a T-shirt signed by the Pope's friend, Argentine Lionel Messi.
Jean Castex presented the Pope with the number 30 jersey, placed in a glass frame and signed by Messi, who plays for Paris St Germain. Castex presented the gift to the Pope after 35 minutes of private talks at the Vatican.
Pope Francis has met Messi and once called him one of the greatest footballers of all time. He is a lifelong fan of the Buenos Aires football team, San Lorenzo.
The French prime minister also gave the Pope a more traditional gift - an 1836 edition of Notre Dame de Paris, Victor Hugo's classic novel.
Castex visited the Vatican and Rome on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See. After meeting with the Pope, Castex visited the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
