Chinese orchestra plays for Pope
By David Willey
BBC News, Rome
The Vatican's audience hall was packed for the concert
The China Philharmonic Orchestra has given a performance of Mozart's Requiem Mass for the Pope inside the Vatican.
Analysts believe the landmark concert could be a sign of growing rapprochement between the Roman Catholic Church and China.
Beijing broke diplomatic relations with Rome more than half a century ago and relations have remained strained since.
The orchestra's conductor, Yu Long, said he hoped the performance would spread a message of peace and love.
Pope Benedict XVI, a lover of classical music, listened attentively to the Mozart Requiem seated on a throne in the middle of the vast audience hall, where earlier in the day he had greeted pilgrims.