The effects of CeO 2 and La 2O 3 addition to alumina-supported palladium catalysts have been investigated. Characterization of the promoted and unpromoted supports has been performed by XRD, TPR, L-Raman and surface area measurements. Supported Pd catalysts have been characterized by means of XRD and TG analyses. TG analyses on palladium catalysts confirm the occurrence of reversible PdO⇔Pd 0 transformation in the presence of O 2 and show that such palladium redox process is markedly affected by CeO 2. In presence of ceria, temperatures of reduction of PdO and reoxidation of Pd 0 are both shifted 50–60°C above the corresponding temperature observed on unpromoted samples. Activity tests in CH 4 combustion under lean conditions show that the addition of ceria on La 2O 3-stabilized alumina does not significantly affect light-off performances, but markedly affects the catalytic combustion behavior at high temperature in line with ceria effect of stabilization of active PdO species.