ROME, Nov. 12, 2009-- Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, said he was going on a 24-hour hunger strike and asked people around the world to join him.

Diouf made the announcement at the agency's headquarters in Rome Nov. 11, just five days before world leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, were to gather for the opening of the U.N. World Summit on Food Security.

"We are suggesting that everyone in the world who wants to show solidarity with the 1 billion hungry people on this planet go on strike," he said.

The Nov. 16-18 summit was called to rally agreements on concrete solutions to "end the scourge of hunger and malnutrition," FAO said.

"The silent hunger crisis -- affecting one-sixth of all of humanity -- poses a serious risk for world peace and security," Diouf said. "We urgently need to forge a broad consensus on the total and rapid eradication of hunger in the world," he added.

Pope Benedict had invited Diouf, a Muslim, to speak to the special Synod of Bishops on Africa in October.

While Diouf focused on ending hunger and improving food security in Africa, he also spoke to the synod on the importance of faith in building a better world.

The day after Diouf spoke at the synod, the Vatican announced Pope Benedict would attend the opening of the FAO summit at the agency's Rome headquarters. (CNS)