In this last ‘Sunday’ of the year, Emily Buchanan looks back at 2024 and forward to 2025.

2024 has been a record breaking year for one of the world's busiest pilgrimage routes - the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The rising numbers of pilgrims, as well as the soaring summer temperatures, mean more people are considering ‘coolcation’ pilgrim trails in countries like Norway. Will they catch on?

‘Wicked’ has been one of the biggest movies of the year. Emily speaks to Gregory Maguire, the Catholic writer whose novel inspired the hit stage musical and new start-studded film. What was it like writing the backstory of the notoriously evil Wicked Witch of the West?

And astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore will be seeing in the New Year in space, having been stranded on the International Space Station since June. He won’t return until well into 2025, and worshippers at his Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas have been keeping a close watch on the situation.

Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Dan Tierney and Saba Zaman Editor: Tim Pemberton.

As Christmas draws near, this week’s Sunday brings the latest religious stories shaping the news agenda.

Pope Francis is about to release his autobiography – the first by any pontiff. Among its revelations is a startling account of how UK intelligence foiled an assassination plot during his 2021 visit to Iraq. Colm Flynn, who accompanied the Pope on that trip, shares his insights into the dramatic events.

At Great Ormond Street Hospital, the fallout from disgraced surgeon Yaser Jabbar has cast a shadow over its vital work. Yet, amid the challenges, lead chaplain Dorothy Moore Brookes is bringing comfort and joy to families spending Christmas far from home. We join her on the wards to witness the impact of her work.

Gold has always been more than a precious metal – it carries deep spiritual significance and a cosmic story. Alan Ereira, author of A History of Gold: How It Shaped Humanity, traces its journey from interstellar collisions to its role in empires and its environmental legacy today.

In Gaza City, where the conflict rages on, aid worker George Antone describes life in the compound of the Holy Family Church. With homes destroyed and hope tested, 500 parishioners prepare for their second Christmas in exile.

And after a tumultuous few weeks for the Church of England – with Archbishop Justin Welby stepping down and safeguarding allegations swirling around his successor – we ask Bishop Michael Ipgrave of Lichfield what lies ahead for the embattled institution.

Presented by Emily Buchanan Producers: Rajeev Gupta & Katy Davis Editor: Chloe Walker

The people of Syria have been celebrating again this weekend, with many protestors outside the largest mosque in Damascus deriding the former president, Bashar al-Assad, as a "Zombie". With a sense of relief that Assad is now gone, there is anxiety too about what might follow. William Crawley explores how the new regime will affect the religious make up of the country with Makram Rabah, Assistant Professor of History at the American University in Beirut.

This week, the justice secretary has said that even under the government's plans to open 14,000 more prison places, they could still run out of space over the next few years. Oasis Restore school opened in the summer and aims to transform the justice system for young people by focusing on education and therapy, rather than punishment and retribution. The Founder, Baptist Minister Steve Chalke, says ‘The philosophy behind everything we do here is not, ‘What have you done wrong?’ but, ‘What’s happened to you?’

For generations, a story has been told in Liverpool's Catholic community about a local man, wounded in the first world war, who went to Lourdes and returned with a miracle. Now, a hundred years after that previously paralyzed man, Jack Traynor, shocked everyone by carrying his own bags off the train at Lime Street Station, the Archbishop of Liverpool has officially recognised his healing as a miracle. Sunday hears from Alex Taylor Jack's great-great grandson, as well as Dr Kieran Moriarty, a British physician who reviewed the original case files and gave evidence to a canonical commission.

Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray Studio Managers: Nat Stokes & Sam Mills Editor: Tim Pemberton

Notre-Dame is reopening to the public after 5 years of renovation, following a devastating fire in 2019. But the cathedral is much more than a building - and many secular minded people in France would say that it's much more than a cathedral too. We hear from our Paris Correspondent, Hugh Schofield and commentator Agnes Poirier, author of "Notre Dame - the Soul of France".

The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for causing distress after Church of England abuse survivors criticised his House of Lords farewell speech. Jane Chevous, the co-founder of Survivors Voices joins the programme.

The position of women in Afghanistan took another turn for the worse this week as women and girls have told the BBC they've been banned from nursing and midwifery courses.

PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Katy Davis and Bara’atu Ibrahim STUDIO MANAGERS: Carwyn Griffith and Simon Highfield EDITOR: Chloe Walker

The Bishop of Newcastle who called for the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury talks to us about the price she's paid for rocking the boat.

Friday's vote by MPs in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill was certainly historic. But did it also feel like a rejection of traditional religious values? We'll explore that claim on today's Sunday with broadcaster Mark Mardell and Director of Theos Chine McDonald

We'll celebrate the start of Advent with Radio 3 as they fill their schedule with Christmas choirs, live from across the UK.

PRESENTER: WILLIAM CRAWLEY PRODUCERS: CATHERINE MURRAY & PETER EVERETT STUDIO MANAGERS: SIMON HIGHFIELD & HELEN WILLIAMS EDITOR: TIM PEMBERTON

After a tumultuous week in the Church of England, Emily Buchanan looks at the legacy that Justin Welby will leave behind, how the church can stamp out abuse in future, and what's needed from the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Plus, an interview with Robert Harris, author of Conclave, on the Oscar-tipped movie of the same name.

In this week’s US election, Donald Trump secured the backing of 80% of white evangelical Christian voters. We hear insights from Rev. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., a senior fellow at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, and Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals.

John Smyth ran Christian summer camps in Dorset during the 1970s and 1980s. His “horrific” and violent abuse of over 100 boys and young men was concealed by the Church of England for decades, according to a new report. Edward Stourton speaks with Andrew Graystone, author of Bleedings For Jesus: John Smyth and the Cult of the Iwerne Camps, and Dr Joanne Grenfell, Area Bishop of Stepney and safeguarding lead bishop for the Church of England.

Guildford, Surrey, has had a Jewish community for centuries, though it has lacked a rabbi since the expulsion of Jews from England 750 years ago. Now, change is afoot as Alex Goldberg has recently been appointed the town’s new rabbi.

Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Davis & Amanda Hancox Studio Managers: Amy Brennan & Helen Williams Editor: Rajeev Gupta

Edward Stourton presents a special US edition of 'Sunday' from Atlanta, in which he reports on the religious vote from the Bible Belt battleground state of Georgia. With unique access to a broad spectrum of faith communities, he gets analysis on the role of religion in the election.

Producers: Dan Tierney (in Atlanta) Catherine Murray Peter Everett Saba Zaman

Studio managers: Amy Brennon John Cole Jack Morris

Editor: Tim Pemberton

This week, a further 1,100 prisoners were released early to ease the prison overcrowding crisis. We explore how faith groups are supporting ex-prisoners trying to move on with their lives.

We join the ‘Nuns on the Bus’ - a group of Catholic sisters and interfaith partners who recently toured the US ahead of the election, encouraging people to be ‘multi-issue voters.’

With the first vote on the Assisted Dying Bill a matter of weeks away, we hear diverse views within faith communities, as people grapple with the complexities of the debate.

Presenter: Julie Etchingham Producers: Dan Tierney & Katy Davis Studio Managers: Nat Stokes & Simon Highfield Editor: Tim Pemberton

Suspected victims of modern slavery are waiting years before their cases are dealt with, whilst waiting for a Home Office decision. On Friday, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Philips announced that the Home Office will hire 200 staff to clear a backlog of UK modern slavery cases. Sunday hears from Major Kathy Betteridge the Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army.

Adventurer, writer and TV presenter Alison Morrison speaks about the discovery of a secret tomb underneath the Treasury Monument at the World Heritage site of Petra in Jordan, where more than a million people visit annually. The tomb contained 12 ancient skeletons and various artefacts dating back to the Nabataean people around two thousand years ago. A team including researchers from the University of St Andrews made the discovery using remote sensing equipment, while on a separate study looking at how to control flood waters at the site. Alison speaks about the significance of the discovery.

The Archbishop of Toulouse- Monsignor Guy de Kerimel- called a mass to clean the city and protect it from dark forces within. He’s taken a public stand against a street art parade planned through the city at the end of month. Three massive metal minotaur's, guided remotely by dozens of technicians, will amble through the city over a three day period. It’s the presence of one Lilith that has infuriated some of the Catholic community. Half woman half scorpion in mythology she was Adam’s first wife and associated with evil and luring the weak into obscurity.

Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Peter Everett Studio Mangers: Chris Hardman & Helen Williams Editor: Tim Pemberton

Edward Stourton is in the chair with a debate on what to do with empty churches, as the Church of England blocks plans to allow one in Stoke-on-Trent to become a mosque.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom - an organ of the Federal government based in Washington - has published a report on the Chinese government's efforts to control the country's religions including reports of crosses and images of Jesus and Mary being taken down in churches and replaced with pictures of the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Bond Director Lee Tamahori famous for 'Die Another Day' tells us about his latest blockbuster starring Guy Pearce. 'The Convert' is a film about a missionary and his misgivings about converting Maori tribes to Christianity in 1800's New Zealand.

Fr Timothy Radcliffe talks about his surprise at being appointed a Cardinal, his journey to becoming an esteemed preacher and his thoughts on the regalia that comes with being a 'red hat'.

Sunday hears from George Antone, one of the last Christians of Gaza who has been in touch with the programme for the past year as he and hundreds of Catholics seek refuge in the Holy Family Church in Northern Gaza. As military action intensifies in the region, George tells us about his fears for the future.