Pope Francis referred to the L.A. wildfires during his weekly general audience Wednesday and invoked Our Lady of Guadalupe, 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.

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.

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

Biden was set to travel to Rome from Jan. 9–12 at Pope Francis’ invitation. His audience with the Holy Father was set for Jan. 10.

President Biden has canceled his upcoming trip to Italy, including an audience with Pope Francis, to “remain focused on directing the full federal response” in the wake of the devastating wildfires raging in California.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor, the White House said.

Pope Francis fell for the second time in six weeks on Thursday, injuring his right arm and requiring a sling, the Vatican says.

President Joe Biden has canceled a planned trip to Rome to meet with Pope Francis so that he can instead focus on federal response to the rapidly moving wildfires that are tearing through the Los Angeles area,

President Joe Biden has honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It's the highest civilian award given by the president.

Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, spoke with the pontiff to name him a recipient of the award, the White House said.