‘Building the City of Mercy’

October 7, 2026

Knights from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine enjoy fraternity and share the Order’s mission at the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius

By Małgorzata Stefanowicz

October 7, 2026

Pilgrims attend the congress’ opening Mass in Cathedral Square, outside the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanislaus and Ladislaus. — Pilgrims attend the congress’ opening Mass in Cathedral Square, outside the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanislaus and Ladislaus, June 7. (Photo by Titas Ančius)

More than 5,000 pilgrims, including Knights of Columbus from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine and their families, gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 7-12 for the sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy.

The congress, sponsored in part by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, brought pilgrims together to proclaim God’s mercy through prayer, testimonies, talks and cultural events under the theme “Building the City of Mercy.” Held every three years in a different country, the gathering was organized around four pillars — memory, word, prayer and action — and addressed poverty, injustice, indifference and war.

In a video message to participants, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the inseparable relationship between peace and mercy.

“Today’s world, with its many fears and anxieties, tensions and wars, presents an increasingly urgent need for peace in the hearts of both individuals and peoples,” Pope Leo said. “Amid the vortex of violence that poisons relationships and destroys lives, the mercy of God asks to be allowed into our hearts with its amazing power of renewal. It is this mercy that is capable of turning our lives around, opening the way to love and forgiveness as distinctive features of the face of God manifested through us.”

Congress speakers included Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, a member of the Knights of Columbus since 2013; Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople; Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, archbishop of Kraków; and Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

‘A WORLD-CLASS EVENT’

Vilnius holds a special place in the history of Divine Mercy devotion. St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the Polish nun and mystic who received visions of Jesus calling her to spread the devotion, lived there in the 1930s, as did her confessor, Blessed Michael Sopoćko. The original Divine Mercy image, bearing the words “Jesus, I Trust in You,” was painted there according to her instructions.

During the opening Eucharistic procession through Vilnius on June 7, Lithuanian Knights carried an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus brought by Knights from Poland. The image had traveled among Polish councils and parishes for more than a year as part of the Order’s Pilgrim Icon Program.

Knights from Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland display their national flags alongside Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius (third from right) at the Hill of the Savior in Vilnius. — Knights from Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland display their national flags alongside Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius (third from right) at the Hill of the Savior in Vilnius June 10. (Photo by Titas Ančius)

Knights from all three countries walked together in the procession. Members also helped organize the congress, accommodate pilgrims and assist at liturgies throughout the week.

“The Knights have responded in a big way to the needs of the Church and in organizing this congress,” Archbishop Grušas said.

Serving alongside their Lithuanian brothers was especially meaningful for visiting Knights from Poland and Ukraine.

“The procession with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the liturgies and our shifts at the Knights’ tent showed us what fraternity truly means,” said Sebastian Izdebski, past grand knight of Blessed Michael Sopoćko Council 17667 in Kraków. “The greatest gift was meeting the Lithuanian Knights. We see their desire to build a community for men, and we want to accompany them on that journey.”

“This was a world-class event,” said Markiian Smal of Blessed Martyr Mykola Konrad Council 18624 in Lviv, Ukraine. “I was deeply impressed by the thousands of faithful who testified to the way Divine Mercy has worked in their lives.”

‘MEN OF PRAYER AND ACTION’

For nearly the entire week, Knights staffed a tent in Vilnius Town Hall Square, welcoming pilgrims and local residents to learn about the Order’s mission.

For Vytis Martinaitis, deputy grand knight of Lithuania Council 15900, the presence of relics of Blessed Michael McGivney in the tent was a highlight of the congress.

“Our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, visited us in a special way,” he said. “His relics remained in our tent throughout the congress. We were able to pray before them, speak with pilgrims and bear witness. His quiet presence was deeply moving.”

Lithuanian Knights carry an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the opening Eucharistic procession at the sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania. — Lithuanian Knights carry an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the opening Eucharistic procession at the sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 7. Knights from Poland and Ukraine also joined the procession. (Photo by Titas Ančius)

On June 10, the Knights hosted a screening of the 2025 docudrama Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End, which explores devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Before the screening, Szymon Czyszek, the Order’s director of European growth, and Martinaitis addressed hundreds of pilgrims, emphasizing that the devotion centers on a personal relationship with Christ.

On June 11, the day devoted to “mercy in action,” Czyszek spoke to thousands of participants about the Order’s global mission. He described Knights as “men of prayer and action” who strengthen their faith, care for their families and parishes, and perform works of mercy. Drawing on St. John Paul II’s call to build a “civilization of love,” he cited the aid Knights from many countries have provided to Ukraine, reaching more than 2 million people since the beginning of the war.

‘WE ARE PART OF A GREAT FAMILY’

The Order established a presence in Lithuania in 2013, when 13 men formed a round table in Vilnius through the efforts of Archbishop Grušas. During the congress, Knights from Poland and Ukraine joined their Lithuanian brothers for an exemplification ceremony welcoming new members.

“For the first time, we truly felt that we were part of a great family,” Martinaitis said. “Neither language differences nor distance prevented us from talking, sharing testimonies and getting to know one another. It felt as though we were old friends meeting again after many years.”

For the Ukrainian Knights, the gathering was also an opportunity to thank their Lithuanian brothers for their support.

“From the first moments, we experienced tremendous kindness,” Smal said. “For years, the Lithuanian Knights have supported Ukrainians who found refuge in Lithuania because of the war. It was a great joy to shake their hands and thank them for that help.”

For Martinaitis, working together during the congress also renewed the Lithuanian Knights’ sense of purpose.

“Helping organize the congress brought us out of a period of stagnation,” he said. “We discovered that we can work together as a well-organized group with a clear purpose. This sense of renewal and enthusiasm means a great deal to us. I hope it stays with us for a long time.”

*****

MAŁGORZATA STEFANOWICZ writes from Kraków, Poland.

Fourth Degree Knights provide an honor guard during the veneration of the relics of Blessed Fulton Sheen following the beatification Mass.

‘Building the City of Mercy’

‘A WORLD-CLASS EVENT’

‘MEN OF PRAYER AND ACTION’

‘WE ARE PART OF A GREAT FAMILY’

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