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U2 Guitarist Turns The Sistine Chapel Into A Rock Music Venue For Cancer Research

The U2 guitarist thanked the Pope "for allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world".

The Sistine Chapel can now be called a landmark, religious symbol and a music venue.

U2 guitarist, The Edge, played the first ever rock concert at the Sistine Chapel on Saturday in Vatican City, Reuters reported.

A three-minute clip was posted to YouTube showing the 54-year-old musician playing an acoustic set for a collection of philanthropists, doctors, and researchers who attended a conference on regenerative medicine at the Vatican. U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden also attended.

The Edge, whose real name is David Howell Evans, was backed by a young Irish choir.

"When I was asked to perform in the Sistine Chapel I didn't know what to say, because usually there's 'this other guy' who sings," The Edge told the audience, referring to U2's frontman Bono. "So it took me at least, well, 30 seconds to agree to it.

The Irish guitarist played unplugged versions of the band's songs, "Yahweh", "Ordinary World" and "Walk On", as well as a cover of Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will", according to NBC News.

This was a historic event for the 15th century, Michelangelo-painted chapel, which has never before hosted a rock music performance.

The Edge thanked Pope Francis and other Vatican officials "for allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world", according to Reuters.

He also dedicated his "Walk On" performance to Pope Francis. "My special thanks go to him, to the people's Pope," NBC News reports.

U2 rock band's guitarist The Edge poses for a photo with some bishops at Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican City.

U2 has a reputation for giving back, contributing to Amnesty International, AIDS research and Greenpeace. The Edge sits on the board of the Angiogenesis Foundation, an organization dedicated to cancer prevention.

According to NBC News, the musician lost his father to cancer last month, and his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.

Vice-President Biden lost his son Beau to brain cancer last year, and spoke at the conference Friday.

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