ECB apologises for Pope Francis Ashes post joke



 This week, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found itself in hot water over a harmless bit of wordplay. In response to a tweet from Pope Francis marking Ash Wednesday, the ECB’s social media team posted, “Even @Pontifex loves The Ashes.” A simple, lighthearted joke.

But in the world of modern online etiquette, even the most innocent posts can cause a stir. The ECB swiftly deleted the tweet and issued an apology, calling it an “ill-judged post” and saying they were sorry for any offence caused.

Was This Really Offensive?

Let’s be honest—this was not an offensive post by any stretch of the imagination. There was no mockery, no disrespect, just a fun bit of word association. Ash Wednesday and The Ashes—it’s an obvious linguistic connection, and one that any cricket fan with a sense of humour could appreciate.

If anything, the Pope’s words about Ash Wednesday could just as easily be describing cricket’s greatest rivalry:

“The Ashes remind us of who we are, which does us good. It puts us in our place, smooths out the rough edges of our narcissism, brings us back to reality, and makes us more humble and open to one another.”

Sound familiar? It should. The Ashes has a way of humbling even the best players. The highest achievers have been brought down to earth in this historic contest. The rivalry itself has endured for nearly 150 years, reminding us that, just like in life, fortunes in cricket can shift dramatically. One moment you’re scoring a century at Lord’s; the next, you’re being bowled out for 67 at Headingley.

The Real Issue: Corporate Over-Cautiousness

The fact that the ECB deleted the post and apologised suggests not that there was an outcry, but that they feared one might come. This is where we are in 2025: companies and organisations preemptively apologising, even when nobody has actually been offended.

It’s part of a wider trend where brands, terrified of causing controversy, pull back from any social media post that isn’t completely neutral. But in doing so, they often make a bigger deal out of something that could have just been left alone.

The truth is, Pope Francis probably wouldn’t have been offended. He’s shown himself to be a man with a sense of humour, and if anything, he might have appreciated the enthusiasm for a game that prides itself on fair play, respect, and tradition—values not far removed from those of faith itself.

A Missed Opportunity?

Rather than deleting the post, the ECB could have responded with something witty or insightful. Imagine if they had said:

“You’re absolutely right, Your Holiness—The Ashes does humble us all. That’s what makes it so special.”

That would have been a perfect blend of acknowledging the Pope’s words while embracing the spirit of the game.

Final Thoughts

In the end, this is a non-story turned into a story by unnecessary over-caution. The ECB’s social media team wasn’t being offensive; they were being playful. And cricket, like life, is better when we don’t take everything so seriously.

If anything, this little episode has only reinforced one thing: The Ashes truly does mean everything—even the Pope (apparently) loves it.

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