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|Pope Francis
ClutchPoints:
The Kings gifted Pope Francis his own …

ClutchPoints: The Kings gifted Pope Francis his own jersey 🙏 (via @NBCSKings )

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Bismack Biyombo: Wow, what a day! I can not put into words what a blessing it was being in the presence of Pope Francis. I wish my parents could be here to witness this, but I just know my mom is absolutely happy that I was able to do this and I know my father is beaming from above. Pope Francis

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Pope Francis may have canceled his planned trip to Congo because of his bad knee, but he had a visit Tuesday from one of Congo’s brightest basketball stars who briefed him on his humanitarian efforts back home. The Phoenix Suns’ Bismack Biyombo had a private audience with Francis at the Vatican hotel where the pontiff lives. The 6-foot-9 Biyombo towered over the Argentine pope, even as he stood for photos.

Santa Maria Times

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In an unprecedented meeting, a delegation of five NBA players and several officials from the National Basketball Players Association are at the Vatican on Monday morning for a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss their work on social justice issues. An intermediary for Pope Francis reached out to the players' association last week indicating the Pope wanted to learn more about how players had recently brought attention to pressing social justice issues and economic inequality -- and what they planned for the future, union officials told ESPN. The union agreed and quickly scheduled an overnight flight Sunday to make their private meeting with the pope, which began at 11:45 a.m. local time Monday morning at the Vatican. With training camp set to open on Dec. 1, players and union officials had to squeeze the trip in now.

ESPN

James Pallotta, president of the soccer team AS Roma …

James Pallotta, president of the soccer team AS Roma and a minority owner of the Celtics, presented a Celtics jersey to Pope Francis at the Vatican Wednesday. Pallotta was there to represent Roma in the Coppa Italia, a match pitting the team against city rival Lazio. The Pope was given Roma gear but also a Celtics jersey with the No. 1 and "The Pope" written on the back. Can banner No. 18 be far behind?

Boston Globe


Ginobili believes the new pope is about to put Argentina on the map in a way no sports star ever could. “Catholicism is the main religion in my country and, of course, it is a big thing,” Ginobili said. As for Pope Francis’ professed fondness for soccer, Ginobili said that merely makes him a true Argentine. “Not being a soccer fan in Argentina is being so awkward that, even if you’re not, you don’t say it,” Ginobili said. Ginobili also joked with close friend and compatriot Luis Scola, a forward with the Phoenix Suns, about the speculation that had surrounded the papal election. After all, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Italy, had been considered a strong candidate. “It was a win-win for him: His ‘uncle’ or an Argentinean,” Ginobili said, laughing.

San Antonio Express-News

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Now the Pope is Argentine, too. Ginobili pronounced himself surprised and proud at the news that 76-year-old Buenos Aires native Jorge Mario Begoglio — from here on out to be known as Pope Francis — had been named the new worldwide leader of the Catholic church. “It is incredible,” Ginobili said after this morning’s shootaround. “We were watching and when we heard the name I said, ‘What? Did we hear it right?’ “We were all in shock. The country is going crazy.”

San Antonio Express-News


Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was eating lunch Wednesday when he found out he’d been bumped down the list of most famous people from Argentina. Move over Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Eva Peron and, yes, Ginobili too. Now the Pope is Argentine, too. Ginobili pronounced himself surprised and proud at the news that 76-year-old Buenos Aires native Jorge Mario Begoglio — from here on out to be known as Pope Francis — had been named the new worldwide leader of the Catholic church. “It is incredible,” Ginobili said after this morning’s shootaround. “We were watching and when we heard the name I said, ‘What? Did we hear it right?’ “We were all in shock. The country is going crazy.”

San Antonio Express-News

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