Sistine Chapel Choir to Sing in Asia, but Not China

The Sistine Chapel choir will perform in Hong Kong for the first time in September but will not visit mainland China despite efforts to improve the rocky relations between Beijing and the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told Agence France Presse on Monday that the choral group, one of the oldest religious choirs in the world, will sing in Macao on September 19, followed by concerts in Hong Kong and Taipei on September 21 and 23.

The singers, who normally perform during papal ceremonies, have already toured many regions of the world, including a visit to Moscow earlier this year.

The choir is traditionally made up of around 20 adult singers and 30 male choristers.

According to the EDA religious press agency, "the choir was originally intended to travel to Beijing and other cities in the country as well."

While "negotiations had been underway between the Holy See and Beijing" for the choir to sing in China "as a diplomatic and cultural gesture" aimed at easing tension between the Vatican and China, "obviously they were unsuccessful" it said.

In 2008, during former pope Benedict XVI's papacy, the China philharmonic orchestra and the Shanghai Opera House choir performed at the Vatican.

Pope Francis has been working to warm up relations as he woos young Catholics in Asia, and told journalists this month that "the Holy See is always open to contact, because it has genuine esteem for the Chinese people."

Relations between the Vatican and Beijing have never been easy or particularly fruitful. China severed ties with the Holy See in 1951, and does not recognize the Vatican's authority over its Catholic community.

Francis sent an unprecedented message to Chinese President Xi Jinping as he flew over Chinese airspace to South Korea this month -- but it went missing due to an unexplained technical issue in an apparent setback to efforts to ease tensions.