The same “hand of God” brought the papacy to Argentina as it helped it to the 1986 World Cup, says Diego Maradona, the soccer legend whose famously illicit, handled goal against England still excites passions at home and abroad.

In a letter to Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper yesterday from his base in Dubai, Maradona, 52, described himself as a devout Roman Catholic and said he rejoiced at the election of his compatriot Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis.

“Everybody in Argentina can remember ‘the hand of God’ in the England match in the 1986 World Cup. Now, in my country, the ‘hand of God’ has brought us an Argentinian Pope.” (Reuters)

Spice girl feels like ‘Londoner’

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has described herself as feeling like “a Londoner” after taking her first Tube journey in nearly two decades.

The 40-year-old singer was so delighted with her short journey on the Piccadilly Line that she sent a series of tweets describing her experience – complete with tips on how to use the Underground.

Halliwell posted a picture of herself standing on the platform at Leicester Square with the message: “Not so bad!!” A photograph of her emerging on to the street at Piccadilly Circus then followed, with Halliwell writing: “Loved it!! I’m a Londoner! I’m liberated!”.

The mother-of-one has apologised for taking 17 years to use public transport. (AP)

Road blocked for toads

A street in London is being closed for two weeks – to let hundreds of toads hop to the other side.

Every year the toads, which live on Ham Common in southwest London, make a 100-metre journey from their habitat to pools on the other side of the road.

Richmond Council said: “It is expected that hundreds of male and female toads in total will make the journey over the two weeks. Every year around 100 common toads, about the size of a teenager’s fist, are killed by cars and so for the past two years, the council has closed a short section of the highway.” (PA)