Pope Francis has given a new meaning to the Hand of God as he spins a football on his finger.

The Pontiff was presented with the ball by a member of the Circus of Cuba during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis thanked the circus artistes and said: “Beauty always raises the heart, beauty makes us all better, beauty brings goodness and also to God.”

One of his predecessors, Pope John Paul II, had been a goalkeeper during his youth in Poland and became a Liverpool fan.