Pope on All Souls' Day: “God remembers even those who are forgotten by everyone”

Pope remembers the faithfl departed at the Angelus on all Souls Day. In the afternoon, Leo XIV visited the Verano cemetery in Rome: “Spiritually, I will also visit the graves of my loved ones”. Appeal against the massacres in the city of El Fasher in Sudan: ‘Unacceptable suffering for an already exhausted population: ceasefire and relief through humanitarian corridors’.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - God's will is ‘that no one be lost forever, that everyone have their place and shine in their uniqueness’. This is the message that Pope Leo XIV invited us to rediscover today at the Angelus on the day when the Church celebrates the Commemoration of All Souls as he addressed the faithful gathered as every Sunday at noon in St Peter's Square from the window of the Apostolic Palace. 

In the afternoon, he will celebrate Mass at the Verano Roman cemetery during a visit in which, he said, ‘I will spiritually visit the graves of my loved ones, as well as pray for the dead whom no one remembers.’

‘We know God's concern not to lose anyone,’ he said again at the Angelus, "from within, every time death seems to make us lose forever a voice, a face, a whole world. Every person, in fact, is a whole world. Today, therefore, is a day that challenges human memory, so precious and so fragile. Without the memory of Jesus - of his life, death and resurrection - the immense treasure of every life is exposed to oblivion. In the living memory of Jesus, on the other hand, even those whom no one remembers, even those whom history seems to have erased, appear in their infinite dignity."

Leo XIV invited everyone to experience today's visit to the cemeteries as ‘an invitation to memory and expectation’. Quoting the words of the profession of faith that Catholics recite during every Mass - ‘I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come’ - he observed that on All Souls' Day "we commemorate the future. We are not closed in on the past, in the tears of nostalgia,‘ he observed. ’Nor are we sealed in the present, as in a tomb. May the familiar voice of Jesus reach us, and reach everyone, because it is the only one that comes from the future. He calls us by name, prepares a place for us, frees us from the sense of helplessness with which we risk giving up on life. Mary, woman of Holy Saturday, he concluded, teach us again to hope.

Immediately after the Marian prayer, the Pope turned his gaze to the wars that are bloodying the world, focusing in particular on the dramatic news coming from the city of El Fasher, in war-torn Sudan. ‘Indiscriminate violence against women and children, attacks on defenceless civilians and serious obstacles to humanitarian action,’ he recalled, "are causing unacceptable suffering to a population already exhausted by long months of conflict. Let us pray that the Lord will welcome the deceased, sustain the suffering and touch the hearts of those responsible. I renew my heartfelt appeal to the parties involved,‘ the pontiff continued, ’for a ceasefire and the urgent opening of humanitarian corridors. Finally, I invite the international community to intervene decisively and generously to offer assistance and support to those who are working to bring relief."

Still looking to Africa, Leo XIV also invited prayers for Tanzania, where, after the general election, clashes broke out with numerous victims. ‘I invite everyone to avoid all forms of violence and to follow the path of dialogue,’ he commented.

• Angelus