A surgical grasping instrument is provided which includes a body portion having an elongate tubular member extending from the body portion and a jaw assembly movably mounted on a distal end of the elongate tubular member. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaws having arcuate grasping portions for securely grasping a circular surgical stapler anvil shaft. The jaw assembly is mounted on a movable head portion which is movable relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member to rotate and articulate the jaw assembly relative to the longitudinal axis to manipulate the anvil within the body of a patient.