In a surprise announcement on April 3, Pope Francis called on “all the Catholic churches in Europe” to hold a special collection on Sunday, April 24, to “alleviate the material needs” of all who are suffering “the consequences of the violence” in Ukraine. Issuing this call in St. Peter’s Square after celebrating Mass on the Second Sunday of Easter, the pope said he hoped this gesture might “help to promote peace and respect for law without further delay in this sorely tested land.” Pope Francis has been concerned about the dramatic situation in Ukraine, where tensions with Russian separatists persist. The pope drew the world’s attention to “the consequences of the violence” and ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, noting that thousands have been killed and more than a million have had to leave their homes.