Fri Mar 07 06:13:42 UTC 2025: ## ECB Apologizes for ‘Ill-Judged’ Tweet Linking Pope Francis to Cricket’s Ashes Series
**London, March 7, 2025** – The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a public apology today for a since-deleted social media post that jokingly suggested hospitalized Pope Francis was a fan of the Ashes cricket series.
The controversial tweet, posted on the ECB’s X account, playfully linked the Pope’s Ash Wednesday message to the highly anticipated cricketing event. This prompted a response from the official Pope Francis account, which was also subsequently removed.
An ECB spokesperson, quoted by the BBC, stated that the post was “ill-judged” and expressed regret for any offense caused. The 88-year-old Pope, currently hospitalized for pneumonia, missed the official Ash Wednesday ceremonies in Rome but participated in a private blessing. He also released an audio message expressing gratitude for prayers for his recovery. The Ashes series, a fiercely contested Test match between England and Australia, is a major event in the cricketing world.
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