Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese websites are bursting with positive and enthusiastic news about the concert of the Chinese orchestra held yesterday at the Vatican, in the presence of Benedict XVI; great emphasis is given to the event, considered the beginning of a "thaw", but they almost never cite the pope in his own words, although they recall his appreciation for the Chinese people and his good wishes for the Olympics. Some also highlight the greetings that the pontiff addressed to the Catholics of China who are "faithful" to the pope.
Yesterday the "China Philharmonic Orchestra" and the "Shanghai Opera House Chorus" performed Mozart's Requiem in D minor in honour of Benedict XVI in the Paul VI hall. At the end, the pope personally complimented conductor Long Yu and the soloists, before addressing all of the 7,000 people present with a short discourse.
The official news agency Xinhua never cites the pontiff's words, making room for the enthusiastic comments of orchestra conductor Long Yu and for the statements on Vatican Radio on the value of music as a "universal language" and as a valuable instrument for dialogue among cultures. This, too, brings into doubt the "diplomatic" value of the concert as a way of facilitating relations between China and the Vatican, but affirms that diplomatic relations are on the agenda of this pontificate, to "obtain more freedom for Chinese Catholics".
The website Sina.com, one of the most visited Chinese portals, speaks of an "icebreaking" concert for diplomatic relations between the two states.
Xingdao.net gives greater emphasis to the cultural value of the meeting, and cites the pope's words on music as a "universal language" that can bring together people of different cultures and traditions.
The website - based in Hong Kong - also cites the statement of Benedict XVI when he addressed "a special thought for your fellow citizens who share the faith in Jesus and are united with a particular spiritual bond to the successor of Peter".
Xingdao also cites the words of the Chinese ambassador to Rome, the hon. Sun Yuxi, who said: "More than a billion Chinese are waiting for the improvement of friendly relations with the Holy See".
The People's Daily, an organ of the Chinese communist party, does not report a single line on the concert. China Daily, a semiofficial publication in English, presents a brief summary, but accompanied by a splendid photo spread on the encounter and meeting between the pope and the orchestra. Just before the event, it had carried the announcement of the concert for three days straight.
There is extensive attention for the pontiff and the concert on blogs and local websites, which recount in precise detail all of the gestures of Benedict XVI, which expressed humility and admiration for the orchestra and for the Chinese people: "he listened attentively", "he gave his discourse standing up", "he went all the way to the podium of the orchestra to extend his greetings", etc.
