The effects of CeO2 and La2O3 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 double left right arrow Pd-0 transformation in the presence of O-2 and show that such palladium redox process is markedly affected by CeO2. In presence of ceria, temperatures of reduction of PdO and reoxidation of PdO are both shifted 50-60 degrees C above the corresponding temperature observed on unpromoted samples. Activity tests in CH4 combustion under lean conditions show that the addition of ceria on La2O3-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.