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Pope prays for those stricken by California wildfires

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis said he wanted to offer a 'special prayer to all those stricken by the fires that are scourging California, and now also for the victims of the freeze of the East Coast of the United States.'
Pope prays for those stricken by California wildfires
Pope Francis celebrates a Mass on Nov. 18, 2018, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Francis offered several hundred poor people, homeless, migrants and unemployed a lunch on Sunday as he celebrates the World Day of the Poor with a concrete gesture of charity in the spirit of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has prayed for victims of California’s wildfires and freezing weather on the U.S. East Coast.

Addressing tens of thousands of faithful Sunday (Nov. 18) in St. Peter’s Square, including pilgrims from New York and New Jersey, Francis prayed that “the Lord welcome the deceased into his peace, comfort family members and sustain all those involved in rescue efforts.”

Francis said he wanted to offer a “special prayer to all those stricken by the fires that are scourging California, and now also for the victims of the freeze of the East Coast of the United States.”


At least 76 people perished and hundreds are unaccounted for in the California wildfires. In the eastern U.S., an unusually early winter snowstorm last week was blamed for at least seven deaths.

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