Prague, Czech Republic, Sep 26, 2009 / 12:36 pm
During his first speech at the beginning of his two-day visit to the Czech Republic, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the tragic consequences for Christianity, in particular for the Catholic Church, of more than 40 years of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.
Before the official welcoming delegation that included Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic; Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop of Prague and Archbishop Jan Graubner of Olomouc, president of the Czech Bishops' Conference, the Holy Father recalled that the coming months will see the twentieth anniversary of the revolution "which happily brought a peaceful end to a time of particular hardship for this country."