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Ten thousand believers are taking part in a church service in the Czech town of Brno this after-noon. The Pope's visit is intended as a fresh source of energy for the church. Benedict the XVI wants the Czech Catholic community to prove itself in the face of ‚secular surroundings' and to form a ‚creative minority' in order to change this society. In his sermon he speaks of the hope he has in God.

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The Pope began his Czech tour on Saturday afternoon at Prague airport. After the usual formalities, Benedict XVI gives his first speech, instantly expressing exactly why he has made this trip: it is a pastoral visit. He says he has come here to help the Czech people to rediscover their Christian tradition.  (1.06)

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OT Pope Benedict XVI

 „Now that religious freedom has been restored, I call upon all the citizens of this republic, to rediscover the Christian traditions, that have been such an essential element in their culture. And I invite all Christians, to let their voices be heard as the Nation turns to face the challenges of the new century."

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His trip takes him from the airport to the Church of ‚ Our Lady of Victory', where he will meet with various families. For centuries people have come here to worship at the holy statue of the ‚Prague Christ'. In his speech the Pope calls children the future and hope of humanity and he criticizes society:

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OT Pope Benedict XVI

 „However, how many children are still unloved, not accepted and ignored! How many are victims of violence and all kinds of exploitation  at the hands of ruthless people!'

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Then, on Prague Hill: a meeting with diplomats and politicians -  most importantly with the president  Vaclav Klaus.  Twenty years after the fall of Communism, Pope Benedict the XVI chooses the themes ‚Truth and Freedom' for his address: "Truth is, in other words, a sure path to freedom, and piety is perfect freedom. ".

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OT Pope Benedict XVI

„True freedom demands a search for truth - for true goodness - and it is for this reason that freedom finds its expression precisely in the acknowledgement and the doing of that which is right and just. In other words, truth is the key to freedom and goodness is perfect freedom. "

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A meeting with clerics and representatives of the lay community at the St. Vitus Cathedral yesterday, marked the end of the first day of the Pope's visit. Regarding the as yet unratified treaty with the Czech Republic - that is a foundation agreement between the Czech Republic and the Vatican - Benedict the XVI emphasises the following: ‚The church does not demand privilege; we only ask to be able to work freely in the serivce of others and in the spirit of the scripture'.

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Final insert:

Report: Marcus Marschalek

Editing: Barbara Katzelmayer