prayer for the dead

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Pope Francis presided over Mass at the Rome War Cemetery for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls' Day, on Nov. 2, 2023.

Pope Francis prays for peace and hope on All Souls’ Day

Nov 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope presided at the Mass at the Rome War Cemetery amid scattered rain showers on a breezy, cool morning. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for recently deceased cardinals and bishops, Nov. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 208 deceased bishops, cardinals

Nov 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

‘Some of them have died as a result of COVID-19,’ the pope noted. Read more

Cardinale Zuppi prays at a cemetery in San Girolamo della Certosa.

Catholics can get an indulgence for the dead by praying at a cemetery any day this November

Oct 28, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment due to sin. Read more

The site of the cable car crash on the Mottarone mountain on May 23, 2021.

Bishops offer prayers for 14 victims of cable car accident in Italy

May 24, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Fourteen people died in a cable car crash in northern Italy Sunday after the cable carrying the passengers up a... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates a Requiem Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for deceased cardinals and bishops Nov. 5, 2020.

Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 169 deceased bishops, cardinals

Nov 5, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to pray for the dead and remember Christ’s promise of the resurrection at a Mass offered... Read more

The Teutonic Cemetery, a burial site adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica, on All Soul's Day, Nov. 2, 2017.

Vatican extends plenary indulgence for the dead throughout November

Oct 23, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican has extended the availability of certain plenary indulgences for the souls in Purgatory, amid the coronavirus pandemic and... Read more

Sant'Egidio prayer memorial in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere Feb. 2, 2020. Photo courtesy of Sant'Egidio.

Homeless gather in Roman basilica to pray for those who died on the streets

Feb 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Hundreds of homeless people and volunteers prayed together in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere Sunday to honor those... Read more

cemetery.

In this cemetery, after dark, students pray for the dead

Oct 23, 2018

By Perry West

An after-dark walk through a cemetery in late October seems like a night pulled straight from a Halloween movie or... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for Dominicans at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Dominicans worldwide pray for their deceased parents

Feb 11, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

Dominican friars around the world celebrated a unique tradition last week: they offered Masses for their deceased parents and for... Read more