Light relief: 12 Sweetest Pope Pictures

The Twelve “Evilest Pope Pictures” is the one of the most shared memes on Buzzfeed at the moment, bearing out ED Kain’s theory that the Holy Father “has aged in such a way as to make him look less the cuddly grandpa and more the evil villain; he bears an uncanny resemblance to Emperor Palpatine”.

Pictures can really change the way we read stories. Personally I’ve never thought of B16 as particularly creepy looking–I’ve always had him in the cute, cuddly, but slightly shy and diffident grandpa category, a bit embarrassed by all the attention that has suddenly been lavished on him. In the spirit of light relief, we’ve compiled a few of the sweetest pictures of Pope Benedict for the 12 Sweetest Pope Pictures meme.

1. Diffident, smiling Pope

2. Waving

3. And forbid them not to come unto me for such is the kindom of Heaven

4. Joking Pope

5. Velcome! Hellooo!

6. Awwww

7. Sailing Pope

8. Oh, Helloo there. Thanks for coming.

9. Pope on a rescue mission?

10. I love you all this much… and then some

11. I played football once too…

12. And many more sweet Pope pictures…