By Vatican News

On the occasion of the feast of All Souls on November 2, Pope Francis will preside at Holy Mass for deceased faithful in the Vatican’s Teutonic Cemetery.

A communiqué from the Holy See Press Office said it would be strictly private, without the participation of the faithful.  Following the celebration, the Pope will pray in the cemetery before going to the Vatican Grottoes to remember deceased Pontiffs.

On the morning of November 5, at 11.00 a.m., Pope Francis will preside at Holy Mass for deceased Cardinals and Bishops.

Like the other liturgical celebrations in the coming months, the Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica, with a very limited participation of faithful and, will follow strict measures put in place in recent months to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Last year, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the Feast of All Souls at the Roman Catacombs of Priscilla, which was known as the regina catacumbarum – the “queen of the catacombs”.

In 2018, the Pope left the Vatican to celebrate Mass for All Souls Day at the Laurentino Cemetery, which includes a burial site for deceased children and unborn babies.

On November 2, 2017, Pope Francis paid homage to war dead while on a visit to the American military cemetery in Nettuno.