On 7 June, WACOM 2026 began.
The VI World Apostolic Congress on Mercy opened on 7 June in Vilnius, a city considered the cradle of the message of Divine Mercy, welcoming thousands of pilgrims, priests, and lay faithful from more than 50 countries across the five continents.
The event was preceded by the Eucharist and the solemn procession of Corpus Christi, which saw the participation of approximately 7,000 faithful along the streets of the Lithuanian capital, in a significant testimony of faith and ecclesial unity.
The opening ceremony featured addresses by numerous civil and ecclesiastical authorities, including Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, the Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas, and the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John Timothy Dunlap.
Particularly significant was the video message of Pope Leo XIV, who drew attention to the need for mercy and reconciliation in a world marked by conflict and division, emphasizing that authentic 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, liturgical celebrations, and moments of prayer, offering participants the opportunity to deepen and spread the message of Divine Mercy as a path of hope, peace, and renewal for the contemporary world.
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