Pope Benedict XVI and Czech cardinal Miloslav Vlk greet well-wishers as Pope visits 'Church of Our Lady Victorious' in Prague, 26 Sep 2009 Pope Benedict XVI began a three day visit to the Czech Republic with acall for the nation to rediscover its Christian roots. Forty years ofcommunist rule in the country stifled religious activities and left thenumber of Catholics in decline and religious practice in general athistoric lows.

The 82-year old pontiff urged Czechs to rediscover their Christian roots.

Under communism, which ended with the 1989 Velvet Revolution, the church was repressed.

Research shows that today nearly half of the country's population of 10 million claim to be non-believers.
 
Speakingin Czech, the pope said the Roman Catholic Church has been battered byfour decades of totalitarian rule until the fall of communism.

Thepontiff explains that the cost of 40 years of political repression whenchurch leaders were imprisoned and Christians harassed is "not to beunderestimated." He says that "a particular tragedy" for the CzechRepublic was what he calls "the ruthless attempt by the government ofthat time to silence the voice of the church." He says now thatreligious freedom has been restored, all the citizens of the CzechRepublic should "rediscover the Christian traditions which have shapedtheir culture."

Speaking at the same ceremony, Czech PresidentVaclav Klaus made clear that despite Czech distrust toward religion,the pope should feel welcomed.

Mr. Klaus says he welcomes thepontiff in Prague and the Czech Republic from all of his heart. And hehastens to add that he does not only speak for himself or his wife "buton behalf of all Czechs."

The pope's attempts to increasepublic confidence in the Catholic Church are overshadowed by severaldisputes, including the return of church properties that wereconfiscated by the Communist regime in 1948.

An enduringsymbol of that struggle is the 14th-century St. Vitus Cathedral, theGothic centerpiece of Prague's medieval Hradcany Castle. Two decadesafter the collapse of communism, the church is still fighting torecover it from the government.

The papal's envoy in the CzechRepublic, Archbishop Diego Causero, has told Vatican Radio that theCatholic Church also seeks the return, or compensation, for mainlyrural properties, including forests.

"Practically for 50 yearsit has been taken from the church and it has been used by the state.The church does not want to receive back what is lost during theperiod. We would like only want the of properties or compensation whereproperties can not be identified anymore or can not be given backbecause something is build on that."  

Among his first scheduledappointments Saturday was a visit to the Church of Our Lady of Victoryin Prague, which holds a statue of the Infant Jesus and has become amagnet for worshippers from around the world.

Father Renzi, a monk from India assigned to the church, described the pope's arrival at the site as historic.

"Weare very excited because the father of the Catholic Church is visitingthis church. And this is the first time that any pope visits thischurch," he said. "This is the original shrine of Infant Jesus. And thepope visiting this shrine of Infant Jesus means that he is reaching outto all the shrines that are in the world which are dedicated to theInfant Jesus."  

Czech organizers hope the pope's visit willencourage 100,000 Catholic faithful, including pilgrims fromneighboring Austria and Poland, to pack an airfield for Sunday'soutdoor Mass in the town of Brno.

The gathering has been described as "the highlight" of the pontiff's three-day pilgrimage in the Czech Republic.