Pope Francis has taken a sly dig at President Donald Trump over his waistline during the pair’s first face-to-face meeting at the Vatican, much to the delight of the President’s smiling wife.

The Pope and Mr Trump discussed the Middle East, international affairs and the protection of Christian communities around the world, but he was in a more jovial mood with First Lady Melania Trump, asking in Spanish through his interpreter as he pointed towards the President: “What do you give him to eat? Potica?”

Potica is a decadent traditional Slovenian cake, mostly eaten on special occasions.

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Mrs Trump, who grew up in Slovenia, reportedly speaks as many as six languages acquired during her international modelling career.

Despite some initial confusion on whether the Pope was talking about pizza, the penny eventually dropped for Mrs Trump.

“Potica? Ah, yes,” the Slovenian-born Mrs Trump responded, while laughing.

Looks good, doesn’t it? Photo: AAP

Potica is prepared differently in various regions, but generally consists of a mixture of nuts, poppy seeds, chocolate, tarragon, honey and, occasionally, cottage cheese.

According to the Associated Press, the Pope is a big fan of potica and often talks to Slovenian visitors about it.

The Trumps were at the Vatican to take part in a tour of St Peter’s Basilica as part of an ongoing world tour, which has so far taken them to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Mr Trump and the Pope were famously at loggerheads last year, when the former said building a wall – the one proposed between the United States and Mexico – would show Mr Trump was “not a Christian”.

A furious Mr Trump responded: “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.”

Thursday’s meeting was far more cordial, though, with the President taking to Twitter afterwards to express his satisfaction.

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