Pope Benedict XVI Calls Attention To The Importance Of Olympics

Vatican, Italy (AHN) - Pope Benedict XVI has stressed the importance of the Olympics at a performance in his honor by the China Philharmonic at the Vatican Wednesday.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church described the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games as "an event of great importance for the entire human family" at the performance by the China Philharmonic Orchestra at the Paul Vi Audience Hall at the Vatican. It is the first time that the pontiff has conveyed his sentiments regarding the 2008 Olympiad which has been a target of protest against Olympic host China following a harsh crackdown of pro-democracy rallies in Tibet in March.

Pope Benedict said as quoted by the Australian News.com: "As I thank you once again for this most welcome tribute, I send my greetings, through you, to all the people of China as they prepare for the Olympic Games, an event of great importance for the entire human family."

The Roman Catholic Church is presently persevering to foster stronger relations with China, where an estimated 12 million Catholics are practicing outside the state-approved church. China has cut diplomatic ties with the Vatican in 1951and has never been formally restored since then. Last summer, Benedict issued an open letter addressed to bridge the gap between the Chinese Catholics who belong to underground congregations loyal to the Vatican and those of the state-owned Catholic churches in China.

After the performance, the primate of Rome addressed the performers and expressed "a special thought for those of your fellow (Chinese) citizens who share faith in Jesus and are united through a particular spiritual bond with the Successor of Peter."

The China Philharmonic performed Mozart's "Requiem" with by the Shanghai Opera House Chorus in a historic moment for both countries. The Vatican performance was a last-minute addition to the schedule of the group's European Tour.

"Music, and art in general, can serve as a privileged instrument for encounter and reciprocal knowledge and esteem between different populations and cultures, a means attainable by all for valuing the universal language of art," Benedict was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

Benedict concluded his remarks in Chinese saying, "I thank you all and I offer you my best wishes."