WORLD : Vatican, Prague Restore Ties

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican and Czechoslovakia restored diplomatic relations today in a move that expands the church’s influence in the former Communist-dominated countries of Eastern Europe.

The announcement of the resumption of ties after 40 years came two days before Pope John Paul II begins a historic visit to Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia, where the Roman Catholic Church was severely repressed for decades, is the latest in a series of Warsaw Pact countries to renew ties with the Vatican. The Pope’s native Poland re-established diplomatic relations last year, followed by Hungary in February. A month ago, the Vatican and the Soviet Union established official ties for the first time since the Russian Revolution although they fall short of full diplomatic relations.