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,

"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.

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