POPE Francis is being treated to a cake, cards and a tango dance demonstration for his 78th birthday.
He also received 800kg of chicken meat for distribution to the poor.
The Vatican said the meat, provided by a Spanish producer, would be distributed to soup kitchens.
Francis also greeted eight homeless people bearing sunflowers during his Wednesday general audience, held under brilliantly sunny skies in St Peter's Square.
As he drove around in an open-air jeep to greet the crowds, children handed up birthday cards they had made for him. Francis asked one: "Did you make this? It's good!" Others held up signs saying "Feliz Cumpleanos". Outside the square, dozens of couples danced the tango, the Argentine pope's favourite. The pope quipped: "It looks like a two-by-four." - a reference to tango.