Pope Francis has offered up 3,000 servings of gelato to Rome's neediest.

Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, funded the special dessert for guests at Rome soup kitchens and shelters to celebrate his name day, the Catholic feast day of St George, or San Jorge. Francis is known to have a sweet tooth.

At one soup kitchen run by the Vatican's Caritas charity, a container of vanilla and chocolate gelato was served alongside a lunch of pasta to guests. Francis has made a point of taking care of Rome's poor and homeless, inviting them to occasional lunches, concerts and museum visits at the Vatican.