Italy's Catholic bishops have taken up an appeal from Pope Benedict XVI and called on dioceses across Italy to observe a day of prayer and fasting for Christians suffering sectarian violence in India.The Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) announced the initiative in a statement that said it was "a sign of spiritual closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of India, so sorely tried in the faith".
The CEI said the day of prayer could take place on a day designated by local diocesan bishops.
On 27 August, the Pope called for an immediate end to acts of violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa, sparked by the murder of local Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati.
Benedict invited religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to restore among the members of the various communities "the peaceful coexistence and harmony which have always been the distinguishing mark of Indian society".
Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, called on all Indian dioceses to observe a day of prayer and fasting on 7 September, to express "solidarity with all the victims and prayer for all our missionaries in India, who are facing most trying and difficult times for the sake of the Gospel".
Earlier this week, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India said that Christians in eastern India were being subjected to a "reign of terror" which had destroyed thousands of dwellings and left nearly 40,000 people homeless.
Father Babu Karakombil, spokesman for the CBCI, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that the unrest had provoked "unprecedented" attacks on Christians in the state of Orissa.
He said 4,300 homes, 50 churches and five convents had been destroyed in the worst affected district of Kandhamal and thousands of people were still hiding in the jungles of the state.
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(Source: AKI)