The England and Wales Cricket Board has apologised for an insensitive social media post about Pope Francis.
The governing body made a joke suggesting the Pontiff "loves the Ashes" following his Ash Wednesday message.
The ill-judged comment came as the 88-year-old Pope remains critically ill in hospital.
An ECB spokesman said that the post had been "swiftly deleted" after recognising its inappropriate nature.
Pope Francis had posted a message on his @Pontifex account on Tuesday evening marking the start of Lent.
"The #Ashes remind us of who we are, which does us good," the Pope wrote. "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."
The England cricket team's social media staff then re-posted this message with the comment: "Even @Pontifex loves the Ashes."
This attempt at humour was quickly deemed inappropriate by the ECB.
Pope Francis has been battling double pneumonia at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for more than two weeks.
Fears are mounting for his health after he suffered two respiratory attacks on Monday.
Doctors had to intervene to extract a large build-up of mucus from his lungs.
The Vatican confirmed he was put back on non-invasive mechanical ventilation following these episodes of "acute respiratory failure."
This marks the longest absence from public life during his 12-year papacy.
The 88-year-old has not been seen in public since his hospitalisation on February 14.
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"This was an ill-judged post and was swiftly deleted," an ECB spokesman said. "We apologise for any offence."
The cricket body recognised the insensitivity of joking about the Ashes while the Pope remains in a critical condition.
The Vatican has stated that despite his acute breathing difficulties, Pope Francis has remained alert.
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Pope Francis has been in hospital for over two weeks
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He has been cooperating fully with doctors throughout his treatment.
No photographs or video of the Pope have been released during his hospital stay.
The ECB has taken a stricter approach to online conduct as part of wider efforts to improve the sport's image.
