We deeply admire the (very serious) work of Pope Francis, but it's been a gusty year at the Vatican and the pontiff has struggled more than once to keep hold of his hat. Here's the lighter side of the pope's year in pictures:
1. New take on the dog collar
2. Papa Smurf
3. Peekaboo
4. 'Doh'
5. Call me Kung Fu Francis
6. The flying saucer
7. 'Err... I can't see where I'm going'
8. Blowing his nose
Christian nationalists 'are neither patriots nor Christians', says Church of England's parliamentary rep
Many Christians among the missing and dead after Nepal floods
Church vows to plough on with Project Spire
James Orr stands down as adviser to Reform after donations sting
Hundreds of churches prepare to welcome Franklin Graham’s ‘God Loves You Tour’ to Manchester
MPs vote against assisted suicide in 'victory for hope, compassion and life'
Vatican to install showers for the homeless in St Peter's Square
Pope to raffle gifts including panama hat, Fiat Panda and espresso machine to raise money for the poor
Pope Francis: Don't proselytise, instead heal the sick and seek the lost
Why Pope Francis won't meet the Dalai Lama
Pope Francis thanks Salvation Army for teaching him about Christian unity as a small boy
Apologist and Oxford mathematician John Lennox warned Christians that artificial intelligence could contribute to a generation becoming increasingly disconnected from Scripture and cautioned that technology meant to serve humanity can become a “very dangerous master.”
The number of Catholic baptisms taking place across the whole island of Ireland has fallen by almost 30% over the past decade, with declining birth rates and the growth of religious non-affiliation identified as the main reasons.
Seafarer wellbeing has declined for the second consecutive quarter as heavy workloads, restricted shore leave and concerns over pay increasingly weigh on crews, according to new research from The Mission to Seafarers.
The crucial question is: why did so much of the early Protestant advance subsequently disappear?
