Pope treated to ceremony at Vatican to usher in the Chinese New Year February 2, 2024By Carol Glatz OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis “dotted the eyes” of performers dressed as a dragon and lion in a traditional ceremony to symbolically awaken them and welcome in the Chinese New Year. He complimented the performers for “this fine art” and thanked them for their thoughtfulness during an audience at the Vatican Feb. 2 with a delegation from the National Federation Italy-China and the Chinese Martial Arts Academy of Vercelli in northern Italy. “I extend to all of you a warm welcome and I thank you for your visit” to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the federation — a non-profit cultural association promoting solidarity and friendship between Italy and China — and to prepare for the Chinese New Year, which begins Feb. 10 and ushers in a year of the dragon. He expressed his appreciation for the group’s efforts in fostering dialogue “and seeking to respond to the challenges posed by cultural integration, education and the promotion of shared social values.” When “Italian and Chinese communities come to know each other better, this can lead to greater mutual acceptance and fraternal spirit.” The traditional Chinese dances, which the performers exhibited for the pope, “express the hope that the New Year will be prosperous and productive,” he said. The performance included having the pope paint the eyes of the dragon with red paint to symbolically bring it to life. In his greeting to the acrobats, he recognized their skill in “spectacular and even extremely risky feats of daring.” He encouraged all of them “to keep taking risks on the path of dialogue, and in this way to become ‘acrobats of peace and fraternity.'” Read More Vatican News Pope: Schools should be centers of formation, not ‘achievement factories’ Pope appoints U.S. cardinal to manage Vatican’s troubled pension fund Pope approves simplified rites for papal funeral, burial Laity, women do not ‘rank’ last in the church, pope says at general audience Pope: Interreligious dialogue key to peace, youth education Pope meets Ukrainian first lady, decries war as ‘shameful tragedy’ Copyright © 2024 OSV News Print
