ROME — Pope Francis offered prayers Wednesday for the people of Los Angeles as they endure deadly fires. Francis referred to the disaster during his weekly general audience Wednesday and invoked Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is revered by many Latino Catholics.

My heart is with the people of Los Angeles who are suffering so much as a result of the fires that have devastated entire neighbourhoods and communities,” Francis said. “May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for everyone to be a witness of hope.

One day after receiving a major American award, Pope Francis weighed in on a major American crisis, posting on X Sunday about the deadly wildfires still burning in Los Angeles County. The Catholic leader said he was praying for people in Los Angeles and expressed his support.

“God says ‘Do not be afraid’ to Abraham, Isaac” and many others in the Bible, but “he says it to us, too. ‘Be not afraid,’ keep going,” because God “is your traveling companion,” the pope said Jan. 22 during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall.

For five consecutive days, wildfires fanned by strong winds have ravaged neighborhoods in Los Angeles, destroying more than 12,300 homes and buildings and leaving at least 16 dead. Fresh evacuations were ordered from Mandeville Canyon to the Interstate 405 freeway on Friday evening because of a flare-up of the massive Palisades Fire.

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles neighborhoods, Pope Francis expressed his spiritual closeness to those affected by the tragedy.

Archdiocesan officials and local Church leaders in Los Angeles are working to shelter and assist victims of the ongoing wildfires there. Biden was set to travel to Rome from Jan. 9–12 at Pope Francis’ invitation. His audience with the Holy Father was ...

I am praying for all of you,” Pope Francis said, using his televised Sunday Angelus address to speak directly to the people impacted by the wildfires in Southern California. “I am close to the residents of Los Angeles County,

Pope Francis is praying for victims and rescuers trying to control the wildfires in California that have killed at least 11 people and destroyed thousands of homes, the Vatican said on Saturday.

The White House said President Biden bestowed the award to Pope Francis during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.

Biden was expected to be in Rome this weekend but canceled the trip due to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles. The pope is the only person Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction to during this time in office. He previously ...

Pope Francis referred to the disaster during his weekly general audience Wednesday and invoked Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is revered by many Latino Catholics.