Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in suffrage for deceased prelates Pope Leo XIV on Monday presided over a Mass in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica in suffrage for the late Pope Francis and for deceased cardinals and bishops. One day after celebrating Mass for all the faithful departed at Verano Cemetery in Rome, the Holy Father led the Church\u2019s commemoration for his papal predecessor and 142 other bishops who died in the past year. In the presence of members of the Roman Curia and hundreds of Catholic faithful, the pope said his first Mass commemorating the Church\u2019s deceased cardinals and bishops had the \u201csavor of Christian hope\u201d because their ministry had guided many \u201con the path of the Gospel.\u201d \u201cDear friends, our beloved Pope Francis and our brother cardinals and bishops for whom we offer the Eucharistic sacrifice today have lived, witnessed, and taught this new paschal hope the Lord called them to,\u201d Leo said in his Nov. 3 homily. \u201cThe Lord called them and established them as shepherds of his Church,\u201d he said. \u201cThrough their ministry they \u2014 to use the language of the Book of Daniel \u2014 have led many to righteousness.\u201d Though saddened by their deaths, Leo said their guidance and teaching helped transmit Christ\u2019s \u201cwisdom, justice, sanctification, and redemption\u201d to the Church\u2019s faithful spread throughout the world. \u201cWe are saddened, of course, when a loved one leaves us,\u201d he told the congregation. \u201cAs Christians, we are called to bear with Christ the weight of these crosses.\u201d \u201cBut we are not saddened like those without hope, because even the most tragic death cannot prevent Our Lord from welcoming our soul into his arms and transforming our mortal body, even the most disfigured, into the image of his glorious body,\u201d he said. Entrusting the souls of Pope Francis and the deceased prelates to God, Leo prayed for their intercession and \u201cspiritual encouragement\u201d for Christians \u201cwho are still pilgrims on earth.\u201d Using the Book of Psalms, Leo at the end of his homily prayed: \u201cHope in God; I will still praise him, the salvation of my face and my God.\u201d This article was originally published by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Kristina Millare Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article UPDATE: Pope Francis hospitalized at Gemelli for bronchitis Pope Francis appoints nun as President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Roman Nights: Exploring the Theme of Vocations in Today’s World – What Happened to Our Vocations? Thousands of pilgrims join Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter\u2019s Square to pray the rosary for peace Ceasefire deal, hostage release a \u2018first step\u2019 for peace, Latin patriarch says Pope Francis Calls for Unity in Syro-Malabar Church & Care for the Elderly and Grandparents<\/p>\n