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
Church of England winds down Living in Love and Faith as deep divisions remain over same-sex blessings
Christian nurse 'alarmed' after Phillipson says guidance on single-sex spaces will not apply to NHS
Sarah Mullally has reasons to be cheerful after her first Synod but there are storms ahead
Who were Saints Cyril and Methodius?
Archbishop Mullally uses maiden presidential address to re-commit to better safeguarding standards
Preacher fined over Bible verse display challenges abortion clinic buffer zones
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
The Alliance Defending Freedom warns of more such arrests if the government introduces its much-maligned definition of 'anti-Muslim hatred'.
17 February 2026 is Shrove Tuesday, the traditional day for eating pancakes before the start of Lent. This is the story …
Most CoE choirs currently have no children involved.
A Christian social worker whose offer of a job was withdrawn over public comments he made about marriage and sexuality has won his case at appeal.
