On the evening of November 2nd, the Solemnity of All Souls, Benedict XVI visited the Vatican Grottoes to pray at the tombs of his predecessors. Throughout the day, several thousand faithful also visited the Grottoes, in particular the chapel where John Paul II is buried.

Before the Angelus prayer on Sunday, November 1st, the Pope exhorted the faithful to live this annual feast according to the authentic Christian spirit and to view the mystery of death with serenity and hope, enlightened by faith in the resurrection -- an exhortation that he has often repeated throughout his pontificate.

The commemoration of All Souls is linked to an initiative that began in the 10th century at the French Abbey of Cluny, on which many monasteries depended. This favored an extensive propagation of the commemoration in many parts of Northern Europe. Afterwards in 1311, the memory of all souls was officially sanctioned by the Holy See.