Tricks – not miracles – on order as Globetrotters meet pope

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis pulled off some trick moves in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday.

He had great instructors: The Harlem Globetrotters.

The basketball troupe met with the pope during his weekly general audience.

They presented a framed No. 90 jersey backed with “Pope Francis,” and encouraged him to play with them.

With teammates Hi-Lite Bruton, Ant Atkinson, and Big Easy Lofton looking on, Flight Time Lang got a red, white, and blue ball spinning on his own finger, then took the pope’s right index finger and let a smiling Francis try it himself.

The Globetrotters are touring Italy.