Pope Francis has urged Donald Trump to use his power to be a peacemaker as he used some pointed gifts to speak for his concerns over the US President’s actions so far in office.

The Catholic leader and the President held a cordial, if subdued meeting at the Vatican on Thursday morning (AEST), with no reprise of the criticism they aimed at each other during the US presidential election.

But the Pope would have left few in doubt of his views judging by the gifts he publicly bestowed on the US President.

Pope Francis gave Mr Trump a copy of his widely-read essay, Laudato Si, on the importance of saving the environment, which appeared to be a thinly veiled a rebuke to the President’s sceptical stance on climate change.

The Pope also presented the President with a medallion engraved with the image of an olive tree, which he explained was “a symbol of peace”. That gift comes as Mr Trump has been outspoken in his talk of interventions in North Korea Syria and against Iran.

As the pair parted, an effusive President Trump told the Pontiff; “I won’t forget what you said”.

Later, on Twitter, he wrote, “I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.”

Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world. pic.twitter.com/JzJDy7pllI

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2017

In February 2016, Pope Francis said: “A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

Then-presidential candidate Trump replied at a campaign rally saying:  “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.”

The Vatican released a statement after the 30-minute private meeting saying the pair discussed the Middle East and “the protection of Christian communities,” as well as “the joint commitment in favour of life, and freedom of worship and conscience” and the Catholic Church’s aid work on behalf of immigrants.

Accompanying the President were his wife and daughter, who both wore long-sleeved black dresses complete with mantillas, or veils, as tradition dictates for women in official visits with the Pontiff.

If the Pope appeared restrained with the President, he was far more relaxed with Melania Trump, sharing a joke with the First Lady over her husband’s weight.

Pope Francis warmly greeted Mrs Trump, embracing her hand as he asked her in Italian; “What do you give him to eat?” “Potizza?”, referring to the fattening treat from the First Lady’s home nation of Slovakia.

There was a sense in the Vatican that Mr Trump was easier to talk to than previous rhetoric during the election campaign let officials to believe, the New York Times reported.

“Trump’s bark is worse than his bite,” a senior Vatican official was quoted as saying by the NYT

– With agencies