1. Pope Francis may have moved on, but he is still remembered by drones floating above St Peter's. What other legacies await us?
2. If you need advice on the titles appropriate for the Blessed Virgin Mary, on whether to indulge in polygamy, or merely on the techniques of kissing, Cardinal Tucho Fernández is your man!
"The most brilliant prefect since Ratzinger."
3. If the Bible has one great commandment, it is "Be Synodal".
This work of art depicts kenotic decentering, athletes of synodality, and a listening church. Which is what we all want.
4. This photo is genuine, honest. It shows Father James Martin LGBTSJ telling us about "The spiritual life". Who knew that he could do comedy?
5. After yesterday's shocking display, today's is the restful "Pilgrims of Hope", which are there to inspire us in the Jubilee Year 2025. Clearly modelled on the Teletubbies...
6. "Uncle" Arthur Roche turned 75 this year, and there were rumours that he was being moved to the Falkland Islands. Whatever this picture suggests, it seems that he is still at the Dicastery for Divine Worship, fighting battles against the TLM
7. "Women for deacons."
A bit ambiguous, this one. Are they looking for deacon husbands, or are they making a little joke, knowing that women can never be deacons?
8. Pope Francis (and Austen Ivereigh) would have been disappointed if something by Rupnik were not included. This picture (St Joseph and an angel) appeared on the Vatican website until June 2025.
9. We welcome Pietro Parolin, the cardinal who expected to become pope. A safe pair of hands when it comes to China, finances, etc. Or perhaps not.
10. AI stands for Austen Ivereigh. If Pope Francis can be remembered with drones, then so can his greatest fan.
Apologies to those of a nervous disposition.
Droning on.
11. Advent is the season in which nativity scenes start appearing. St Susannah's has had the *courageous* idea of using the crib for political slogans rather than religious devotion.
ICE WAS HERE!
12. Yes, it's Timothy Radcliffe, created a cardinal as one of Pope Francis's last jokes.
If you want unusual views on LGBTQ+ Issues, the role of women in church, and communion for remarried divorcees, he's your man!
13. We welcome another cardinal who didn't quite make it to pope (just imagine!): the world's oldest teenager, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle. What a nice smile!
14. Notre Dame de Paris leads the way in church decoration. Last year we saw their new bowl-shaped altar, and now they have imaginatively decided to remove the old glass and provide a new (modernist) stain on their windows.
15. We haven't had many really devout Catholics so far, so to redress the balance here is Stephen Colbert, seen here demonstrating the orans posture to his congregation. Stephen's Catholic views are as orthodox as Cardinal Radcliffe's.
16. Who could forget September's historic pilgrimage of LGBTQSJ Catholics into St Peter's Basilica? Unfortunately for them, Pope Leo XIV didn't join in; but he didn't burn them at the stake, so that's progress.
17. Yes, it's Andrea Grillo, professor of sacramental theology and Pope Francis's rottweiler. The man who inspired Traditionis Custodes. Beware!
How cruel!
18. For the Catholic who has everything (rosary, scapular, breviary, Luce doll...) we present the Leo XIV support doll for them to hug. It may not look much like the pope, but there is a handy label to remind you.
19. Another celebrity famous for being a Catholic appears on the scene. Yes, it's Piers Morgan - a man who suffers for his beliefs.
20. We probably won't see much more of Pachamama and Luce so here they are together for once last time.
The full picture was too big for the calendar, so we are showing that as well.
21. Yes, it's Blase Cupich, winner of the World Cup of Bad Cardinals in 2019 and 2022. It's clear that his training for the 2026 competition is going well!
22. Winner of the 2025 World Cup of Ugly Churches - Newman Hall, Holy Spirit, Berkeley, USA. Note that the altar can also be used as a set of stocks for notorious sinners.
23. We welcome Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte - but please, no kneeling, altar candles, Roman vestments, use of Latin... there'll be another list of prohibitions along next week.
24. We conclude with Pope Leo XIV blessing a block of ice in order to save the world from climate change. So far this seems to be working. So we wish you all a merry Christmas!
Sorted!
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