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 the Chinese New Year.

He complimented the performers for “this fine art” and thanked them for their thoughtfulness during an audience at the Vatican February 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 February 10 and ushers in the 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.'”