SHARE
COPY LINK

OF

Animals light up Vatican in climate message

Images of clouds, lions and butterflies - alternating with polluted air and parched farmland - were projected on the famous facade of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Tuesday night as global leaders try to thrash out a historic climate deal in Paris.

Animals light up Vatican in climate message
Pictures were projected onto St Peter's Basilica to send an environmental message. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

The light show, titled “Fiat Lux (Let There Be Light): Illuminating Our Common Home”, also coincided with the festive launch on Tuesday of a special Catholic Jubilee Year on the theme of mercy.
   
Thousands of people thronged St Peter's Square for the hour-long light show  featuring the work of some of the world's best photographers including Sebastiao Salgado of Brazil, Joel Sartore of the United States and Frenchman Yann Arthus Bertrand.


Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
   
The images were accompanied not by music but by the sounds of nature such as stormy weather, birdsong and long stretches of silence.


Photo:Tiziana Fabi/AFP

The initiative, backed by the World Bank, aims to underscore the Catholic Church's push for environmental protection.
   
Pope Francis, a fierce defender of the environment, warned leaders at the start of the two-week COP21 talks in Paris on November 30th that it was “now or never” for international leaders to seal a deal to slow global warming.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.