Artist takes painting on COP29 'Pilgrimage for the Planet'

Credit Kevin Creaghan

Source: Laudato Si Movement

This week, as the International Climate Conference Cop29 begins in Azerbaijan, a group of Christian climate pilgrims walked on a three day 'Pilgrimage for the Planet', from Durham Cathedral to Bishop Auckland.

The pilgrims walked on the 'Way of Life', one of the famous Northern Saints Trails, along which St Cuthbert's body was carried to Durham. praying for Climate Justice at this urgent turning point for the future of all life on Earth.

Leading the pilgrimage was artist Helen Elwes, who carried her painted banner 'Mother of Mercy' along the 16 mile route to be installed in the Auckland Tower at Bishop Auckland on arrival. Helen's original painting will remain on public display for the duration of COP29, until 22 November.

In 2019 Helen painted her 'Mother of Mercy' image as a banner to take onto the streets, in a heartfelt response to the climate & nature crisis the world is now facing. Since then this powerful contemporary Icon of Mary, set in the burning Amazon Rainforest, has been on many Climate Marches, Prayer Vigils & Pilgrimages for the Planet across the UK, and in 2021 Helen walked 200 miles with her banner on the Camino to COP26, the International Climate Summit in Glasgow.

A professional artist, trained at the Ruskin and the Royal Academy Schools, Helen is a member of Christian Climate Action and a Laudato Si Animator (the Catholic climate movement) and is using her talents to highlight the inextricable link between faith and protecting God's creation :

Helen said: "I'm walking on this pilgrimage with my painting to try to raise awareness of the climate and nature crisis and as a prayer for climate justice. It's a painting of Mary - Mother of Mercy - kneeling in a devastated Rainforest landscape, she is holding out her blue cloak to protect people from all nations and endangered animals gathered around the Tree of Life. It was inspired by Pope Francis's powerful and visionary letter to the world -'Laudato Si'. I hope it will touch the hearts of those who see it and inspire them to take action to protect our precious planet."

The pilgrims arrived at Bishop Auckland on Sunday 3rd November and local community groups met them in the Faith Garden, carrying their own homemade banner of hope, for a colourful procession through the centre of town to the Auckland Tower where Helen's banner was installed.

During the afternoon the Auckland Project held a Community Open Day with craft workshops on the theme of Pilgrimage and Hope and a screening of 'Of Walking on Thin Ice', a beautiful and moving film made by Ben Wigley, about the Camino to COP pilgrimage to Glasgow in 2021.

The Auckland Project will host a free public exhibition of the Mother of Mercy banner in the Auckland Tower until 22nd November. (Opening times: 10.30am - 4pm, Wednesday - Sunday)

Film screenings : 'Of Walking On Thin Ice' and 'The Letter', a powerful film inspired by Pope Francis's call in 2015 to all people worldwide to "Listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the Poor" and protect our Common Home, will be available to view daily in the Auckland Tower and at the Community Centre at 'no.42'

The pilgrims began and ended each day of walking by saying together Pope Francis's 'Prayer for our Earth':

All powerful God,
you are present in the universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with your peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle,
for justice, love and peace.

LINKS

Auckland Project: https://aucklandproject.org/

Christian Climate Action: https://christianclimateaction.org/

Laudato Si Movement: https://laudatosimovement.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/motherofmercypaintedbannerbyhelenelwes