The Vatican has not yet confirmed details regarding the liturgical celebrations planned for Christmas.
Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass on Nov. 2 for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed — also known as All Souls’ Day — at the Monumental Cemetery of Verano, the oldest and largest cemetery in Rome.
According to the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, which announced the event on Oct. 27, the Eucharistic celebration will begin at 4 p.m. local time in this historic Roman cemetery, which preserves evidence of a necropolis dating back to the first centuries of Christianity and includes the Catacombs of St. Cyriaca.
The celebration will form part of the traditional commemorations the Church dedicates to the faithful departed during the first days of November. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Holy Father will offer prayers for the deceased and impart the apostolic blessing over the graves.
It will not be the first time a pope has presided over this celebration at Verano Cemetery. Pope Francis celebrated All Souls’ Day Mass there in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In subsequent years, he chose other significant locations, including the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo within the Vatican in 2022 and Rome’s Laurentino Cemetery in 2025.
The commemoration at Verano Cemetery will open the pope’s public liturgical schedule for the months of November and December. Among the events already announced are a Mass for the repose of the souls of the cardinals and bishops who have died during the past year, scheduled for Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.
He will also celebrate nine Masses and preside over a number of prayer services during the apostolic journey he will make to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.
Back in Rome, on Nov. 18, Leo XIV will celebrate a 5 p.m. Mass marking the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica. On Dec. 8, at approximately 4 p.m., he will lead the traditional act of veneration of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna.
Pastoral visits to Rome parishes
In November and December, Pope Leo will also visit five parishes in the Diocese of Rome, something he also did earlier this year during the season of Lent.
As bishop of Rome, during each of the afternoon visits, the pontiff will meet with parishioners, learn about the ministries in the parish, and celebrate Mass. Each church is from one of the five geographic divisions of the diocese.
On Friday, Nov. 27, he will visit Sant’Andrea delle Fratte in the city’s historic center. On Nov. 29, the first Sunday of Advent, the pope will travel to San Carlo da Sezze, which is west of Rome, in the direction of the coast.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, he will go to Sant’Eligio, in the east part of Rome; on Sunday, Dec. 13, the feast of St. Lucy, he will visit a parish named for the Italian saint in the western part of Rome; and on the Sunday before Christmas, Dec. 20, he will go to San Roberto Bellarmino in the north.
This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
