MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) – Catholic believers of Belarus will to take up a special collection for the people of beleaguered Ukraine on 24 April, BelTA learned from the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus.
“The collection will be held in all parishes across Europe,” the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus noted. Speaking to tens of thousands of Catholics at the end of Mass in St Peter's Square in early April, Pope Francis announced the aid initiative, saying: “This gesture of charity, in addition to relieving material suffering, is intended to express my personal closeness and solidarity, and that of the entire Church, for Ukraine.”
“I vividly hope that it can help to promote peace without additional delays and respect for law in that tested land,” he said.
Pope Francis encouraged all the faithful of Europe to make a generous contribution to the collection.
