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.

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.

"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.

Pope Francis on Monday tapped Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego ... notably said in a speech before a February 2017 conference of faith groups in California that "well now, we all must become disruptors." "We must disrupt those who would seek to send ...

President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Saturday from the White House after he missed a scheduled trip to the Vatican in order to monitor the wildfires that have been raging across Southern 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.

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.

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

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.

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.