The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has called for Christians to wear the cross.

The appeal was made by Cardinal Keith O'Brien in his Easter Sunday homily in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

He encouraged Christians to identify with the cross and make it more prominent in their lives.

Christians, he said, should "wear proudly a symbol of the cross of Christ on their garments each and every day of their lives".

He added: "I know that many of you do wear such a cross of Christ – not in any ostentatious way, not in a way that might harm you at your work or recreation, but a simple indication that you value the role of Jesus Christ in the history of the world, that you are trying to live by Christ’s standards in your own daily life."

Some Christians have been disciplined in the workplace for displaying the cross. Two Christians, including a nurse who was removed from ward duties for not removing her cross necklace, are taking their cases to the European Court of Human Rights.

Cardinal O'Brien said: "I hope that increasing numbers of Christians adopt the practice of wearing a cross in a simple and discreet way as a symbol of their beliefs.

"Easter provides the ideal time to remind ourselves of the centrality of the cross in our Christian faith.

"A simple lapel cross pin costs around £1, since this is less than a
chocolate Easter egg I hope many people will consider giving some as a gifts and wearing them with pride."