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.

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. "His Holiness Pope Francis assures you and the community affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness,

Pope Francis expresses his sadness over the havoc caused by the giant California wildfires and his spiritual closeness with those affected. "I pray for all of you," he states from a balcony in St. Peter's Square during his weekly Angelus prayer.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -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. It was the first time during his four years in office that Biden awarded the medal "with distinction," it said.

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.

Joe Biden awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis, a personal marker of his Roman Catholic faith after devastating fires in California prompted the president to cancel a Vatican visit during his final days in office.

The award comes after Biden was forced to cancel a trip to the Vatican this weekend to monitor the devastating wildfires in California.

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 ...

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Pope Francis on Saturday. The medal was scheduled to be presented to the ...

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

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.

Francis referred to the disaster during his weekly general audience Wednesday, invoking Our Lady of Guadalupe.