The gatherings are part of a programme devised by a Christian ministry in the Capitol.

Pence has been described as an "Evangelical Catholic".

"My Christian faith is at the very heart of who I am," he said last year during the run-up to the election.

Created for government officials at all levels, Ralph Drollinger who runs the ministry, says "God will bless the nation when its leaders turn to him in prayer".

"God judged Israel when His people worshipped other gods. Too often this betrayal was fostered by her spiritual leaders. … It stands to reason that spiritual leaders who minister to our government leaders are critically important to the health of the nation," he said.

"Whether or not they lead them in God's ways has huge repercussions relative to if or not God blesses a nation."

Spurce

• CBN News
• Knights Templar International
• Image: The Christian Post

Mr Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, tweeted on Friday that Indiana Governor Mike Pence would be his running mate.

Mr Pence has previously described himself as a "pretty ordinary Christian" and as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order".

But he also once said, "I made a commitment to Christ. I'm a born-again, evangelical Catholic".

He was raised Catholic, but later attended an evangelical mega-church.

Growing up in an Irish Catholic family that reportedly revered the Kennedys, Mr Pence served as an altar boy and went to parochial school.

He has said he made a "commitment to Christ" while taking part in a nondenominational Christian student group in college.

As a member of the US House from 2000 until his election as governor, Mr Pence's actions included: Opposition to the expansion of abortion rights and federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, pushing a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage and briefly cutting off new federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Last year, he said "calls to ban Muslims from entering the US are offensive and unconstitutional".

Pundits have said one reason Mr Trump may pick Mr Pence is that the governor's strong pro-Israel sentiment would shore up Mr Trump's shaky relationship with Jewish voters.

Last year, Mr Pence supported Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would have allowed businesses and individuals to refuse to do business with some people, based on their own religious beliefs.

But shortly after signing the bill into law, he had to sign a revised version after major corporations, organisations and celebrities vowed to boycott Indiana.

In 2009, Mr Pence was asked if he believes in evolution.

He replied: "I believe with all my heart that God created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that is in them . . . How he did that, I'll ask him about some day."

Sources

• Religion News Service
• The Guardian
• Image: Reuters