Pope Benedict XVI has held an open-air Mass near the Czech city of Brno, appealing in front of more than 100,000 people for the country's spiritual renewal.
Many pilgrims wore traditional costumes during the Mass in the capital of Moravia, where most of the nation's 2.5 million Catholics live.
But some – like this lesbian couple – used the occasion to stage a silent protest against the Vatican’s opposition to gay marriage.
The Pontiff began his three-day visit to the Czech Republic on Saturday, urging the heavily secular nation to "rediscover the Christian traditions".
The official welcome at Prague's airport was polite - albeit low-key.
In Prague's imposing Church of Our Lady Victorious, the Pope said the persecution of the Catholic Church and other faiths by "oppressive" Communist regimes in Central Europe "is not to be underestimated".
Catholic nuns were part of the papal audience...
... as were some children.
But the number of Christian believers is said to be diminishing. There are currently more agnostics and atheists than believers in the 10-million nation.
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