The Pope and the Panda
Sartore’s colorful portrait of an endangered giant panda at Zoo Atlanta graced the front of the Vatican on Tuesday, during a “visual symphony” that raises awareness about the natural world.
See Photos of Endangered Animals Projected Onto the Vatican
Selections from Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark project were shown on the side of St. Peter’s Basilica to highlight the plight of animals.
Pandas, fish, and leopards covered the storied walls of the Vatican for three hours on Tuesday, in an effort by humanitarian groups to bring attention to the ongoing Paris Climate Talks, and to recognize Pope Francis for his recent encyclical on environmental protection.
During the “Fiat Lux: Illuminating Our Common Home” show, several National Geographic photographers had their work projected onto the walls of St. Peter’s Basilica, including David Doubilet, Paul Nicklen, and Sebastião Salgado. Also featured prominently were selections from Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark, a project supported by the National Geographic Society that aims to bring attention to the plight of animals at the hands of human beings.
So far, Sartore has photographed 5,000 captive animals around the world,
