|PIC1|The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland says he wants to see the country rediscover its Christian convictions.

This month marks the end of Scotland’s “Year of Homecoming”, which saw more than 400 events take place over the last 12 months to welcome Scots living around the world back to their native land.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien said he hoped Scots would now “come home” to their faith and “rediscover the Christian convictions upon which our nation was built and which the generations who came before us upheld”.

He said he wanted 2010 to be the year in which Scotland witnessed a return to Christian values and beliefs.

The Cardinal encouraged lapsed Christians to return to church in 2010 and people of no faith to use the next year to learn more about Christianity.

“To those Christians who have left their church and lapsed from their faith I say – make 2010 the year to rediscover the eternal truths of the Christian message,” he said.

“To those of no faith I urge you to make this coming year the one in which you discover what the Christian message says and how it is relevant to your life.

“To our fellow Scots of other faiths, I hope you will take time in the course of 2010 to learn something of the Christian faith which has so shaped the society in which you now live.”