Pope Francis commemorated All Souls’ Day with a Mass at Rome’s Laurentino Cemetery, pausing in silent prayer at the “Garden of Angels,” a section dedicated to stillborn and miscarried children.
Arriving under a bright November sky, he laid a wreath of white roses at the entrance to this small, tranquil area, marked by simple graves adorned with stuffed animals and flowers.
The Pope was welcomed by Rome’s mayor and a group of mourners, including parents who had lost children. “Comfort those who are suffering the pain of separation,” Pope Francis prayed, asking for God’s mercy for grieving families.
During the Mass, Pope Francis led them in a prolonged moment of silence, opting not to deliver a homily. At the end of Mass, Francis led a prayer for the deceased, calling on God to “open Your arms of mercy” for the faithful departed. He concluded with a traditional blessing of the graves, praying that “even mortal bodies will awaken on the last day” to join Christ’s triumph over death.
This visit continues his tradition of marking All Souls’ Day at various Roman cemeteries.
Photo credit: Public Domain
