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
Edinburgh University ends divinity programmes as theology faces a changing future
Why the Archbishop of Canterbury’s award controversy matters
More than one in four US Protestant churchgoers believe some biblical truths become outdated
Catholicism in France has 'collapsed'
Christian leaders issue ‘sober and urgent call’ for Western Church to prepare for disruption
Australia's anti-therapy laws harm the most vulnerable - Britain should not copy them
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
People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.
Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.
Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.
