John Paul II entrusted the world to the Divine Mercy

John Paul II entrusted the entire world to the Divine Mercy and consecrated the Sanctuary in Kraków – Łagiewniki, where he arrived from his residence in Kraków, greeted and applauded enthusiastically on the way.

„Grant that all the peoples of the Earth may experience your Mercy. In you, the Triune God, may they ever find the source of hope”, prayed the Pope and asked God to cure all weakness and conquer all evil. Referring to the dramas of the contemporary world, the Holy Father said, „Mercy is needed in order to ensure that every injustice in the world will come to an end in the splendour of truth”.
During the solemn Mass the Pope consecrated the Sanctuary which is a world centre of the Divine Mercy started by St. Faustina Kowalska. The act of consecration was executed by the Pope in the presence of over 14,000 faithful gathered inside and outside the Basilica in Łągiewniki. The ceremony was attended by the entire Polish Episcopate, as well as numerous bishops and priests from the whole world. The ceremony was also attended by politicians, among other Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr. Viktor Orban, and pilgrims from the whole world. Flags of Sweden, Spain, Ukraine, Hungary, France, and the US fluttered in the wind. The Pope entered the shrine on a platform, greeted with cries „We love you!!” The faithful greeted the Holy Father with the hymn of the Sanctuary „God rich in Mercy”. Thousands of people holding hands swayed to the rhythm of the song played by the Skaldowie group. Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, greeting the Holy Father, turned to him with a „humble request” for the consecration of the Shrine. „The Church of Cracow welcomes you with reverence and love in the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Kraków – Łagiewniki; we welcome you with gratitude … Holy Father, I ask you to consecrate this new church. May it be for the glory of God rich in mercy. May it be a sign given to the whole world by St. Peter’s Successor that humanity will never find peace unless it turns with trust to the mercy of Christ”. Then the Holy Father was presented with a key to the Sanctuary, which is a custom at celebrations of this type. John Paul II blessed water, with which bishops present at the ceremony sprinkled the walls of the church, the altar and the faithful present. „There is no other source of hope for man but God’s Mercy”, said the Pope in his homily. Referring to the hardships the world is facing, the Holy Father spoke, „Wherever respect for life and human dignity are lacking, there is need of God’s merciful love, in whose light we see the inexpressible value of every human being. Mercy is needed in order to ensure that every injustice in the world will come to an end in the splendour of truth”. He added that the contemporary man is lost since he experiences all manifestations of evil. „In every continent, from the depth of human suffering, a cry for mercy seems to rise up. Where hatred and the thirst for revenge dominate, where war brings suffering and death to the innocent, there the grace of mercy is needed in order to settle human minds and hearts to bring about peace”, explained the Pope.
The Pope thanked heartily the sponsors and benefactors who have contributed to the development of the Sanctuary in Łagiewniki and assured them about his prayer. After the homily the Holy Father anointed the altar of the church with holy chrism and consecrated it with incense. Subsequently, the act of anointing twelve points on the supporting piers of the church was performed by Cardinal Primate of Poland Józef Glemp, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Metropolitan of Cologne, Joachim Meissner, and the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. At the end of Mass the Pope shared with the faithful his memory from the time of the Second World War „During Nazi occupation I walked the road to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in wooden shoes, even in winter. How could one imagine at that time that this man in wooden shoes will one day consecrate the Basilica of Divine Mercy!”, he said. The faithful responded to the words of John Paul II with enthusiastic applause.