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Watch: Pope Leo tries a basketball trick with the Harlem Globetrotters

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 11:05 AM ET

Pope Leo may have to pray a little harder to master a particular basketball trick.

The Supreme Pontiff recently got a visit at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City from the Harlem Globetrotters, and tried to spin the ball on his fingertip with the help of one of the members of the renowned exhibition basketball team.

Pope Leo watched as he waited for the spinning basketball to be transferred to his right index finger. The ball stayed on his finger for a few seconds as the Globetrotter held his hand in position before it fell off. A smiling Pope Leo then shook the hands of the members of the Globetrotters, as seen in the video below.

Pope Leo XIV enjoyed a lighthearted moment Wednesday as he welcomed the Harlem Globetrotters to St. Peter's Square. https://t.co/RZFeTRWbg6 pic.twitter.com/MvaUETTzlX
— ABC News (@ABC) April 8, 2026

The 70-year-old Pope Leo could use some practice to master spinning the ball on his finger, but he surely has more pressing matters to tackle.

Being from Chicago and known to be a sports fan (particularly of the Chicago White Sox), Pope Leo surely has some appreciation for basketball.

Although the Chicago Bulls are nothing to write home about these days, as they’re about to miss the NBA Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, he knows what it was like when Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen led the team to all those NBA championships in the 1990s.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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