### England Cricket Faces Backlash Over Insensitive Joke About Pope Francis The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued an apology following a controversial social media post that jokingly suggested Pope Francis, who is currently hospitalized with double pneumonia, is a fan of the Ashes cricket series. The post was perceived as ill-judged and insensitive, especially given the pontiff's health condition. The ECB quickly deleted the post after receiving backlash, emphasizing that it was not intended to offend but acknowledged the inappropriateness of the timing and content of the joke [https://www.reuters.com/sports/cricket/england-cricket-apologises-ill-judged-papal-ashes-repost-2025-03-07]. ### Breakdown of the Incident and Response 1. **Nature of the Post**: The ECB reposted a message from Pope Francis's account, humorously implying that he "loves the Ashes" [https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cricket/english-cricket-board-apologises-for-pope-francis-ashes-joke-and-quickly-deletes-post/a186059292.html]. 2. **Health Context**: At the time of the post, Pope Francis was hospitalized for double pneumonia, making the joke particularly sensitive [https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/cricket/england-cricket-apologises-for-ill-judged-tweet-about-sick-pope-francis-vatican-latest]. 3. **Public Reaction**: The post was met with immediate criticism, leading to its swift deletion and a formal apology from the ECB, which described the post as "ill-judged" [https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cricket/english-cricket-board-apologises-for-pope-francis-ashes-joke-and-quickly-deletes-post/a186059292.html]. 4. **Official Statement**: An ECB spokesperson stated, "This was an ill-judged post and was swiftly deleted," acknowledging the misstep [https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cricket/english-cricket-board-apologises-for-pope-francis-ashes-joke-and-quickly-deletes-post/a186059292.html]. ### Supporting Evidence of the Incident - **Health Condition of Pope Francis**: The pontiff is currently receiving treatment for double pneumonia, which has raised concerns about his health [https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/england-apologise-for-illjudged-ashes-tweet-about-pope-francis/news-story/340a1c430fe8c809779ee72839a4e4d3]. - **Social Media Impact**: The ECB's post was shared on their official social media account, highlighting the potential reach and impact of such messages in sensitive contexts [https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/cricket/375672/england-cricket-apologises-for-tweet-about-pope]. - **Apology and Deletion**: The ECB's quick response to delete the post and issue an apology reflects the organization's awareness of the need for sensitivity in communications, especially regarding public figures in distress [https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/england-cricket-apologises-for-ill-judged-tweet-about-pope/article69301576.ece]. ### Conclusion and Key Takeaways **The ECB's social media misstep serves as a reminder of the importance of sensitivity in public communications, particularly regarding health issues.** 1. **Incident Overview**: The ECB's joke about Pope Francis loving the Ashes was deemed inappropriate given his hospitalization. 2. **Public Reaction**: Immediate backlash led to the post's deletion and a formal apology from the ECB. 3. **Health Context**: The pontiff's serious health condition made the joke particularly ill-timed. 4. **Organizational Response**: The ECB's swift action indicates a recognition of the need for careful messaging in sensitive situations. This incident underscores the critical need for organizations to consider the implications of their communications, especially in the context of public health and well-being [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-14469515/England-cricket-delete-social-media-post-Pope-Francis-ECB-apology.html].