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

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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

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,

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

Pope Francis expressed his condolences Saturday to Los Angeles communities affected by devastating wildfires that have destroyed homes and churches, including the historic Corpus Christi Catholic Church.