Pope: Only God's mercy can fill hearts with genuine solidarity

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

In a letter to the Bishop of Lodi, Italy, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the occasion of the 27th Columbanus Day, Pope Leo emphasizes that only God's mercy can fill hearts with genuine solidarity and "enable enemies to extend a hand to one another." He also recalls his recent pastoral visit to the Lodi area and his tribute to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Martin Horváth

Yes, only God's mercy can change hearts to join hands. In Lodi, the Pope saw it with his own eyes at St. Kabrini, that appealed to me.

Анна Мельник

Yes, the mercy of God can really melt even enemies. In Lodi, near the relics of St. Cabrini, this is probably especially noticeable. It is interesting that the Pope emphasized it there.

Георгий Лебедев

I agree, God’s mercy really changes people. In Lodi, at the relics of Saint Cabrini, this is probably felt especially strongly, since the Pope said it there. Here in Rostov, too, after service, sometimes you see former enemies making peace - and it’s immediately clear whose job it is.

Людмила Мельник

Yes, right near the relics of St. Cabrina feels this more strongly in Lodi, because she herself reconciled people in foreign lands so many times. Were you there in person or did you just read about the visit? I wonder how it looks live.

Елена Семёнова

I agree, Georgy, mercy really does change even the most stubborn. In Novosibirsk, after confession, I also saw a couple of times how neighbors who had not greeted each other for years suddenly hugged each other at the church. Do you often visit the relics in Rostov or do you just observe in the parish?

Мария Козлова

Yes, Elena, mercy really softens. In our parish in St. Petersburg, I also saw a couple of times after the service how former neighbors in the stairwell, who had not spoken for five years, suddenly lit candles together. Do you often have such cases after confession in Novosibirsk or is it rare?

Carmen Martínez

Yes, only God's mercy can make enemies shake hands, as the Pope says. In Lodi, near Santa Cabrini, it is more noticeable because she herself reconciled people in strange lands. I have seen it sometimes after 10 o'clock mass, when two who were not speaking end up talking at the door.

Магдалена Ристеска

Yes, the mercy of God can really soften the hardest of hearts. Here in Ohrid, after the liturgy in the church of St. Kliment I often see people who have been fighting for years shaking hands in front of the icon. I wonder if in Lodi at the relics of St. Cabrini has such moments after prayer.

Степан Тарасов

In Novosibirsk, this also happens after confession, but not every day, more often when the person himself is the first to approach with “I’m sorry.” Did these neighbors in St. Petersburg even start talking later on, or did they just end up lighting candles together?

Максим Волков

Yes, Elena, this really happens after confession. We also have neighbors in the same parish in St. Petersburg who spent ten years avoiding each other, after communion they started talking and even exchanged pies afterwards. And in Novosibirsk, do such reconciliations often happen after confession, or is it only once a year?

Дарья Виноградова

Yes, Elena, after confession a lot really changes. In our parish in Tula, one grandmother from the choir did not speak to her housemate for three years, and after Communion they made dumplings together in the common kitchen. Do you often go to church in Novosibirsk or more on weekdays?

Симона Илиевска

Yes, this is exactly how it is here in Ohrid, Magdalena, in front of the icon of St. Kliment those moments happen that no one can order. In Lodi, according to what the Pope writes, they also hope for mercy at the relics of St. Cabrini – I wonder if any of the believers there told you about a similar case after prayer.

Екатерина Макарова

Yes, Daria, after confession and Communion, the truth thaws out a lot. In our Moscow parish there was also a couple who did not say hello for five years, and then they poured soup together at a common meal. Do such stories with dumplings often happen in Tula or is it more common in your choir?