The Italian Bishops’ Conference is inviting all Italian dioceses to join in a day of prayer and fasting on Friday, September 5, for an end to the anti-Christian violence in India.

The day of prayer, which will be held “as a sign of spiritual closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters who so harshly tried in their faith,” especially in the state of Orissa, will take place on the “liturgical memorial of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta or on another day established by the Diocesan Bishop,” Fides news agency reported.

Likewise, the Bishops’ Conference said the day of prayer would be an expression of the concern of the Italian Catholic community” in conjunction with “the call made by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, firmly condemning all attacks against human life and urging the search for harmony and peace.”