Cardinal Flopsy, close confidant of Pope Francis and driving force behind the recent papal encyclical on climate change, has died after a short illness.

Flopsy, who was also a well-known lagomorph bungineer specialising in earthworks, had been mourning the loss of his two wives, Tia and Mitzi since last year. Although according to his waitress he soldiered on bravely with his duties which included keeping the garden safe from invaders such as unauthorised leaves and Hamzilla, he never recovered the saucy spark he possessed while guarding his spouses.

Flopsy was a well-travelled bun and having spent considerable time in Vatican City, Slovakia, Wales and the North Oxfordshire Moors, he was fluent in Italian, Latin, Slovak, Welsh and curiously, Brum.

He often accompanied his waitress, a consultant bat-fancier, on research trips into abandoned buildings where his extraordinary olfactory ability allowed him to identify bat species by sniffing out droppings and make recommendations for their diet.

Close friend Katrijn paid tribute to the intrepid Flopsy and released a statement on behalf of Haas and Bouffe:

Flopsy was a dear friend who brought sunshine into the lives of those who met him. He was always expertly groomed and developed his own personal formula for fur-conditioner, the recipe of which is now sadly lost forever.

We fondly remember our many chats over the fence discussing the merits of white fur in summer, tunnelling techniques and waitress training. We ask the media for privacy while we grieve during this difficult time.

Flopsy
2007-2015

Beloved Husbun to Tia and Mitzi

International Bigamy Champion

Lagomorph Cardinal and Papal Climate Change Envoy to Slovakia

Honorary Fellow of the Royal Bat Fanciers Society of North Oxfordshire

Much missed by his waiting staff Sarah and Stuart

and all his friends at the Bunnington Post