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.

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.

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.

After greeting the groups of international pilgrims in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, the Pope asked people to pray for the people of Los Angeles, who are still suffering from the ongoing wildfires.

“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.

In what would have been his last overseas trip as president, Joe Biden had been set to depart for Italy Thursday night to meet with Pope Francis.

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.

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.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - 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 ...