During the visit, the pope was seen attempting one of the team’s signature tricks — spinning a basketball on his finger — with help from one of the players.
The moment happened on Wednesday (April 8) during the pope’s general audience, where the Globetrotters were among the visitors welcomed to the square. Video shared by multiple outlets shows a player guiding the ball onto Leo’s finger as the crowd reacted with applause.
The exchange quickly took off online, in part because it offered a more playful glimpse of the pontiff, who has now been in the role for nearly a year. Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, became the first American pope in 2025.
While the basketball spin may have needed an assist, the moment still landed. It also connected naturally with Leo’s American roots and the Globetrotters’ long-standing role as one of the country’s most recognizable basketball institutions. The team, founded in Chicago in 1926, has spent decades blending showmanship, athleticism, and global goodwill through the game.
For a few seconds, St. Peter’s Square looked a little less formal — and a lot more fun.
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