The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has publicly apologised for a controversial joke involving Pope Francis, who has been receiving medical treatment for a respiratory condition at the age of 88. The incident occurred on Ash Wednesday, a significant day in the Catholic calendar, when the Pope posted a reflection on the day emphasising humility and self-awareness.
In a tweet responding to the Pope’s message, the ECB cheekily remarked, “Even @Pontifex loves The Ashes,” referencing the highly regarded Test cricket series between England and Australia, represented by an urn filled with ashes. However, the comment was deemed inappropriate given the context, leading to its prompt deletion and an official apology from the ECB, stating, “This was an ill-judged post and was swiftly deleted. We apologise for any offence.”
This incident is notable as it coincides with England’s poor performance in recent cricket outings, having not won an Ashes series in a decade. The women’s team faced a tough defeat against Australia earlier this year, and the men’s team was eliminated from the Champions Trophy by Afghanistan just a week prior to the controversial tweet.