Rome  - Italy's Roman Catholic bishops on Friday called on Italian dioceses to set aside a day on which the faithful will fast in solidarity with Christians in India who have been targeted in recent attacks.

The Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) said it was taking up an appeal launched by Pope Benedict XVI who on August 27 urged an immediate end to acts of violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa.

At least 20 people were killed when Hindu extremists attacked Christians who they blamed for the murder of a Hindu leader, Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati. Maoist rebels had claimed they were responsible for the murder.

The fast in Italy, the dates of which have yet to be determined, would be "a sign of spiritual closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of India, so sorely tried in the faith", CEI said in a statement.

Catholic bishops in India have set Sunday, September 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for victims of the violence and for Christian missionaries active in the Asian nation. (dpa)