|PIC1|The President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, and spiritual guide of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has called on believers to demonstrate their solidarity with the poor and eat less.

In his Pastoral Letter for the Feast of Epiphany, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor has called on Catholics to deepen their faith by reviving their spiritual practices, reports The Press Association.

The letter will be read at all Masses in the Diocese of Westminster this weekend. It asks them to pray regularly and eat less on Fridays.

His message will be keenly felt by any members of the congregations who have over-indulged at Christmas.

"This form of penance, he will say, should be carried out not only for self discipline, but as an act of identity and solidarity with the poor," said a spokesman.

The Archbishop has urged believers to take part in the Live Simply campaign being run this year by CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

CAFOD hopes it will "galvanise the Catholic community and the wider general public to take personal responsibility for creating change," it said on its website, and that the initiative will contribute towards the creation of a world in which human dignity is respected.

The Archbishop calls the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and taking part in Holy Hour prayer with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament "truly part of Catholic tradition and devotion and are nourishment to our faith".