Vatican Report | Monday evening, 2 November 2026

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed: this afternoon Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Rome's Verano Cemetery and prayed for those mourning the victims of war. The Bulletin stopped at the homily (B0860): no appointments today. Tomorrow at 1 p.m., the briefing on the programme of the journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. ✅ Mass at the Verano At 4 p.m. the Pope presided over the Eucharist at the monumental entrance of the Verano Cemetery, offered "in suffrage for the faithful departed, especially those who rest here and those whom each of us carries in our heart" (our translation). Commenting on the Beatitudes, he said their proclamation "resounds with particular spiritual force in a cemetery, which is like a threshold between this world and the next" (our translation). 🕊️ A prayer for the victims of war On the beatitude "Blessed are those who mourn", Leo XIV prayed for those who have recently lost a loved one, "especially those from whom it was torn away by the senseless violence of war". He added: "May the tears of so many mothers, so many children, so many elderly people touch the consciences of those who have the power to silence the weapons!" (our translation). In the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis, he recalled "Sister Bodily Death" from the Canticle of the Creatures and concluded that "our bond with the faithful departed is not broken, but transformed" (our translation). 🎖️ Appointments No appointments today: the Press Office Bulletin carries only the homily of the Mass at the Verano. ✈️ Towards the journey Speaking to Vatican News, Father Alejandro Moral, for twelve years Robert Francis Prevost's vicar at the head of the Augustinians and now in Buenos Aires, said Argentina has "polarisation" and that the Pope "is a voice of unity and always invites dialogue" (our translation). Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig of Mercedes-Luján described the expectation at the Luján shrine, where the Pope will stop on 11 November. 📌 To watch • Tomorrow, Tuesday 3 November, 1 p.m.: Matteo Bruni's briefing on the journey programme (Bulletin B0857); US midterm elections • Wednesday 4 November, 10 a.m.: General Audience; noon: press conference on the 5th annual report of the Laudato Si' Action Platform • Thursday 5 November, 9 a.m.: Mass in suffrage for the cardinals and bishops who died during the year, in St Peter's • 6-17 November: Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru