EXHIBIT 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33- 38264) of BellSouth Corporation of our report dated June 20, 2003 relating to the financial statements of the BellSouth Retirement Savings Plan, which appears in this Form 11-K.

/s/    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

June 30, 2003

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