Jean Castex gave the pope the glass-framed No 30 jersey, signed by Messi, who plays for Paris St Germain, following 35 minutes of private talks at the Vatican.

Francis, 84, has met Messi, 34, and once called him one of the greatest football players of all time. Francis is a lifelong fan of the Buenos Aires San Lorenzo football team.

The French premier also gave the pope a more traditional gift – an 1836 edition of “Notre Dame de Paris”, Victor Hugo’s classic novel about the hunchbacked bell ringer Quasimodo set in Paris in 1482.

Castex was visiting the Vatican and Rome for celebrations marking the centenary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See.

After meeting the pope, Castex toured the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.