At Rome’s Monumental Verano Cemetery, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Mass for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, reminding the faithful that Christian memory is not only a reflection on the past but also a promise of eternal hope. Standing among the graves and sculptures of this vast resting place, the Holy Father reflected that Christ has conquered death and opened the way for all who believe to share in eternal life.

Before the celebration began, Pope Leo paused before the tomb of the Nicolini family, placing a bouquet of white roses and praying in silence—a gesture offered on behalf of all the departed buried at Verano. From there he processed to the altar set within the cemetery’s Quadriportico, surrounded by the quiet presence of more than two thousand faithful gathered in prayer. The choir’s Requiem hymn filled the air as the late afternoon sun began to fade over the cypresses.

The Pope’s homily centered on the truth that remembrance and hope are bound together in faith. He said that while we recall our loved ones with affection, our faith calls us to look forward to the life to come. In Christ’s resurrection, memory becomes a doorway to hope: we trust that our departed are now welcomed into His light.

The Pope reminded those gathered that death does not have the final word. “Love conquers death,” he said, describing how divine love, by which God created and redeemed the world, draws us toward the promise of eternal life. This same love sustains the living and unites them with those who have gone before. Through acts of charity, especially toward the poor and the weak, the faithful already participate in that eternal communion.

“Let us fix our gaze upon the Risen Christ,” the Pope urged, “and think of our departed loved ones as embraced by His light.” The Resurrection, he said, is not a poetic consolation but the sure foundation of Christian hope. Those who die in Christ will awaken to life everlasting.

As the evening darkened, the faithful joined the Pope in the final prayer for eternal rest. Many lingered at the graves of their loved ones, some praying quietly, others leaving flowers. Returning to the Vatican, Pope Leo descended into the crypt of Saint Peter’s Basilica to pray privately for his predecessors, uniting the shepherds of the Church, living and departed, in one communion of faith and love.