Abstract: A monolithic catalyst, for the purification of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising: an inert carrier; a film of alumina and rare earth oxides coated onto the surface of said inert carrier, wherein Ce and La are present in said film at an atomic ratio of Ce/La of 0.05-0.3 and the total content of rare earth oxides in said film is 2-50 wt. %, measured as R.sub.2 O.sub.3, wherein R is an element of the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table; and said film carries a catalyst component containing at least one element of the platinum family.