It is customary for the pope to pray for deceased pontiffs on All Souls Day. Despite all the restrictions in place because of the coronavirus, Pope Francis continued the tradition. After celebrating Mass, he made a private visit to the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter's Basilica to pray for his predecessors.
He stopped first at the tomb of Paul VI, whom he canonized in 2019.
He also made his way past the tomb of John Paul I, and paused for a moment before that of Benedict XV.
He stopped at the tomb of Pius XII.
He also prayed before the tomb of St. Peter, the first pope.
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