Pope Francis by Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.com (Left), Wildfire in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles by eley archive / Shutterstock.com (Right)
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis expressed in a Jan. 11 letter his spiritual closeness to the victims of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, offering his prayers for those affected.
“Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction caused by the fires near Los Angeles, His Holiness Pope Francis assures you and the communities affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness,” the letter stated.
The Pope’s message included a message for the families grieving their loved ones.
“Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, His Holiness sends heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss,” continued the letter, which was addressed to Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gómez and signed by Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican News reported.
He also extended prayers for the ongoing relief efforts and for the emergency responders working to combat the fires.
The fires that continue to ravage southern California have killed 24 people, burnt thousands of acres, destroyed a Catholic church, and forced the closure of at least 90 Catholic schools, CatholicVote reported.
According to preliminary reports from AccuWeather, damage estimates from the fires are staggering, potentially reaching between $135 billion and $150 billion.
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