Suns' Bismack Biyombo Meets with Pope Francis to Discuss His Foundation's Work

Phoenix Suns center Bismack Biyombo met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday to discuss humanitarian efforts in his native Congo.

The pope had canceled a planned trip to the Congo and South Sudan for July because of a knee injury, but Biyombo still made sure the meeting took place.

"If he is not feeling good, he can't get on a plane," Biyombo told the Associated Press. "I think if he wouldn't go to Congo, I will bring the Congo to him."

The two met at the Vatican hotel, and Biyombo told the pope about his foundation.

The 29-year-old basketball player formed the Bismack Biyombo Foundation in 2016, which has provided scholarships and helped refurbish schools within the Congo. In March, he announced his entire 2021-22 salary ($1.3 million) would go toward building a hospital in honor of his late father.

Biyombo has spent 11 seasons in the NBA since being drafted seventh overall in 2011.