On Thursday, Nov. 5, Pope Leo XIV stood at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and prayed for seven cardinals and 136 bishops who died between October 2025 and the end of October 2026. The yearly Mass, which popes traditionally celebrate at the start of November, was a quiet moment in a busy season. But its message reaches far beyond Rome: for Christians, remembering the dead is not only about grief. It is about hope.
As many families begin planning Thanksgiving tables that will have an empty chair this year, the Gospel reading the pope chose speaks directly to that ache.
What happened at St. Peter’s
The Mass was celebrated in Latin, with readings proclaimed in French, English and Italian, according to Vatican News. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the vice-dean, joined the pope at the altar. Afterward, Catholic World Report and EWTN News reported, Pope Leo went down to the Vatican grottoes beneath the basilica and prayed at the tombs of St. Paul VI, Venerable Pius XII and Pope Benedict XVI.
In his homily, the pope built his message around words that St. Monica spoke to her sons, including the future St. Augustine: “Remember me at the altar of the Lord, wherever you may be.” He described praying for the dead as one of the church’s basic duties and said it rests on the promise of the resurrection. Without that promise, he said, such prayer would have no point. He also urged believers to look at death without fear, because the Lord is alive and has prepared a place in his Father’s house.
“Let us not allow the memory of the deceased to become merely nostalgic.” (Pope Leo XIV, homily, Nov. 5, 2026, as reported by EWTN News)
He added that in Christ, death does not cut the bonds between people who love each other but carries them into a new dimension.
The grain of wheat
The Gospel for the Mass came from John 12, where Jesus, days before the cross, uses a simple farm picture to explain what his death would accomplish:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24, KJV)
In the King James wording, “corn” simply means a grain or seed. A seed kept in a jar stays a single seed. Planted in the ground, it seems to be lost, yet that is exactly how a harvest begins. Jesus was speaking first about himself: his death and resurrection would bring life to many. A few verses later he widens the picture to everyone who follows him, promising that where he is, his servant will be also.
That is why the church’s November prayers for the dead are not simply sad. Christians grieve, but the passage points to a God who brings fruit out of what looks like loss. It is a harvest image, fitting for a month when American families gather to give thanks for the harvest.
Why it matters for families
November is a month of remembering. Many churches mark All Saints’ and All Souls’ days at the start of the month, and Thanksgiving, on Nov. 26 this year, often brings memories of parents, grandparents or friends who are no longer at the table. A few simple ways to carry the hope of John 12 into the coming weeks:
- Say their names. Share a favorite story about a loved one at dinner. Remembering is a way of honoring, not a reason for embarrassment.
- Read John 12 together. The grain-of-wheat picture is easy for children to understand. Some families plant a seed in a cup and watch it sprout over the holidays.
- Pray with hope. Thank God for the life of someone you miss, and ask him for comfort for others who are grieving this season.
- Look out for neighbors. A widow, a widower or a family that lost someone this year may dread the holidays. An invitation or a phone call can mean a great deal.
For practical ideas on supporting someone through a hard season, see our guide When the Holidays Hurt: How to Walk Beside a Grieving Friend This Season. The Mass comes days after the pope’s journey to South America, which we previewed in “Good Tidings of Great Joy”: Pope Leo XIV Readies South America Journey.
What to watch next
Thanksgiving week and the start of Advent on Nov. 29 will bring more seasonal messages from churches and from Rome. Upstormed News will follow it.
Read more: “As Bound With Them”: A November Call to Remember the Persecuted Church
Who will you remember around your table this Thanksgiving, and how does your family honor them?
Sources: Vatican News, “Pope Leo: In Christ, life has been redeemed” (November 5, 2026); Catholic World Report / EWTN News, “Pope Leo XIV: Let us not allow the memory of the deceased to be reduced to mere nostalgia” (November 5, 2026); Bible Hub, “John 12 (King James Version)” (accessed November 6, 2026)
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