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.

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

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.