St Peter's Basilica yesterday evening provided the backdrop for a light show spectacle featuring large-scale images of humanity, the natural world and climate change.

The colourful video and photo projections lit up the facade of the basilica, delighting the large crowds gathered in St Peter's Square to marvel at the sight.

The contemporary art display was staged by a group of humanitarian organisations under the auspices of the World Bank Group's Connect4Climate initiative as a gift to Pope Francis at the start of the Catholic Holy Year which the pontiff officially opened earlier in the day.

The installation was inspired by the themes of climate change, human dignity and the earth's living creatures in the pope's encyclical on environment, "Laudato Si", organisers said in a statement.

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