Pope Leo XIV

The West African nation was one of the main gateways for the transatlantic slave trade.

The pontiff also warned of a "new digital slaveries" in his first encyclical since becoming Pope last year.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife Mary were greeted in the San Damaso Courtyard on Friday morning before meeting the Pope in the Papal Library.

Leo, the first American pontiff, drew Trump's ire after becoming a firm critic of the war and the administration's hardline immigration policies.

Trump lashed out at the pope for condemning the conflict in the Middle East, as his secretary of state heads to the Vatican.

Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female head of the Church of England, had a private discussion with Pope Leo during the trip.

The Pope gives a frank and passionate speech, the likes of which have characterised his tour of Africa.