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
Investigation launched into fire at west London church
Bishop of Lincoln suspended and arrested
Police officer praised for defending right to preach in Muslim area
Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror
Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens
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
Parts of the Catholic Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia Diocese are controlled by Russian forces.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has run out of money but a new replacement fund is not yet up and running.
“My family wants me dead,” the convert from Islam said.
For merely “opening a church,” pastors receive messages demanding large sums of money.
