Pope Francis has received an unusual gift aimed at boosting relations between the Catholic and Anglican churches: A cricket bat signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and his team following their recent rematch with the Vatican's XI in Rome.
Australia's Cardinal George Pell gave Francis the bat Thursday after the St Peter's Cricket Club beat the Church of England's XI by 43 runs in a 20-over match this weekend.
Francis promptly signed it himself.
The Vatican team includes seminarians and priests studying at Rome's pontifical universities. They are 4-0 this season ahead of an April rematch with the Royal Household.
Australia's Vatican ambassador, John McCarthy, said the Anglicans' visit "strengthened personal and institutional relations" between the two churches.
