AKIPRESS.COM - South Korean popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo has sung "Ave Maria" in front of Pope Francis during a private audience with him in Ulaanbaatar, the singer's agency said Wednesday, Yonhap reported.

According to DGNcom, Lim was granted a private audience with the pope at Bishop's House in the Mongolian capital on Monday (Mongolian time), the last day of the first-ever papal visit to the country.

During the audience, the popera tenor presented the pope with his signed Catholic hymn album, titled "The Last Confession."

Responding with a bright smile, the pope said, "Cantare!" in Italian, asking for a song from the singer.

Lim, a Catholic himself, then sang the first verse of Caccini's "Ave Maria" in a cappella. After hearing the song, Francis shook the singer's hand and thanked him for the singing, according to the agency.

On Sunday, Lim performed at the Mass presided over by the pope at the Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar.