The Sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy opened on June 7 in Vilnius, Lithuania – a city considered the cradle of the Divine Mercy message. The Congress is hosting thousands of pilgrims, priests, and laity from over 50 countries and five continents, proclaiming the message of mercy. The Congress opened with a Mass, followed by a Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Vilnius.
Numerous civil and ecclesiastical authorities delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, including Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization; Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania; Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius; and Fra’ John Timothy Dunlap, Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Particularly significant was Pope Leo XIV’s video message, which drew attention to the need for mercy and reconciliation in a world characterized by conflicts and divisions, emphasizing that true peace cannot exist without mercy.
The Congress, dedicated to the theme ‘Building a City of Mercy,’ will continue in the coming days with conferences, testimonies, liturgy, and prayer moments, offering participants the opportunity to deepen and spread the message of Divine Mercy as a path of hope, peace, and renewal for today’s world.
More information: World Apostolic Congress on Mercy 2026 in Vilnius | WACOM Congress
Pope’s greeting: Pope Leo XIV’s greeting