Looking at the numerous pilgrims visiting the Shrine of Divine Mercy, we are conscious that we are standing in a particular place. God Himself chose this spot to reveal the mystery of His merciful love to the world in the life and testimony of Saint Sister Faustina. Jesus said to His “Secretary”: “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of my hands are crowned with mercy (Diary, 301). That is why the �agiewniki Sanctuary is, most of all, a place for begging for God’s mercy “on us and on the whole world.” Here you can almost tangibly feel the particular concentration of the difficult human affairs, problems, suffering, personal and family dramas. Here the call for Divine Mercy and for hope for the man and for the world has been concentrated like in the lens for many years.

Contemplating the face of Merciful Jesus in the Sanctuary of Krakow-�agiewniki we are conscious that it is the place of the enormous battle, the battle for human souls. One day Sister Faustina heard the following invitation from Jesus: “Help Me, My daughter, to save souls” (Diary 1032). She responded by writing in the Diary: “I go, Lord at Your command. I go to conquer souls sustained by Your grace” (Diary 1488). The basic mission of the Sanctuary in �agiewniki is to participate in the battle for human souls, for their conversion and sanctity, for their salvation. Blessed John Paul II explains that “conversion to God is always the fruit of the ‘rediscovery’ of this Father who is rich in mercy (Dives in misericordia, 13). Here they are the meetings with God’s love, decisive for the fate of man.

The �agiewniki Sanctuary is one of a kind school of hope. In today’s world of the rapid progress in science and technology that is so promising, hope is put to a test. Scientific and technological progress appears not only to be an opportunity for man but also a threat with increasing frequency. The future arouses fear more and more often. Many people, including many young people, lose the understanding of their own existence. Pope Benedict XVI responds to this pessimism and deep crises of hope spreading in today’s world in the following words: “It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love… The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: ‘neither death, nor life… nor things present nor things to come, nor powers… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 8,38-39). If this absolute love exists, then – only then – is man redeemed” (Spe salvi, 26).

Today, we would like to confirm that we are faithful to the message of Divine Mercy, transmitted to the world through Saint Sister Faustina, explained in the teaching of Blessed John Paul II and confirmed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI. Here in Krakow – �agiewniki from where the spark of Divine Mercy went out and the fire of mercy is going to the whole world, we would like to serve all the Venerators of Divine Mercy. We invite all the devotees to the Sanctuary – to the source, from which purifying and hope-filling water flows all year long. We especially invite you in three years to the World Meetings of Divine Mercy Apostles to take the graces of mercy from the source and to fortify your faith, hope and love. We invite you to meditate together the Mystery of God rich in mercy and with joy to transmit it to the contemporary world thirsty of God.

With the support of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow we intend to establish soon the International Academy of Divine Mercy which will aim at studying the doctrine and service to the Divine Mercy.


Stanis�aw Kard. Dziwisz
Archbishop of Krakow
Krak�w-�agiewniki, 5.10.2011

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