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
‘My conscience is clear,’ says Päivi Räsänen after Finland’s Supreme Court hears Bible tweet case
JD Vance hopes his wife Usha will one day convert
Conor McGregor declares he’s living ‘by God’s Word’ after finding faith: 'I'm saved'
Construction begins on UK's largest Christian monument near Birmingham
World Evangelical Alliance general assembly concludes with installation of new Secretary General and Seoul Declaration upholding biblical sexuality
In India, Hindu nationalists continue their anti-Christian hate campaigns
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
Faith is "becoming an increasingly individualised and self-directed journey" among young people, research has found.
The SNP has been slow to act on the issue.
Scrapping the English Baccalaureate has also been welcomed by the Church of England and the worlds of theatre, art and music.
An EU official declared it should be illegal to say a person has left homosexuality.
