In his words after the Angelus prayer, held at 12:00 local time this Sunday from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, before more than 30,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Supreme Pontiff expressed his pain for the tragedy affecting that region of the United States.

According to a statement from the Holy See press office, the Bishop of Rome said this afternoon that “I am close to the residents of Los Angeles County, California, where devastating fires have swept through in recent days. I pray for all of you.”

In a telegram sent by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Archbishop José Gómez of the North American city, Francis previously expressed his “sadness at the news of the loss of human life and the widespread destruction caused by the fires.”

A report published on the Vatican News website states that the Pope assured his prayers for the work of the personnel who continue to fight the fire, to rescue victims of the fire that has already claimed 11 lives in the Eaton area, near the city of Altadena, and five in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

The latest reports indicate that strong Santa Ana winds are expected to maintain a sustained speed of about 32 kilometers per hour in that region, with gusts that can double that speed, which together with the very low relative humidity should contribute to a greater spread of the fire.

So far, according to reports, the Palisades fire, which covers some 9,170 hectares and is the largest of the four main fires, has only been contained by 11 percent, while the Eaton, Husrt and Kenneth fires have been contained by 15, 76 and 80 percentage points of their surface areas, respectively.

Specialists from Mexico are participating in solidarity efforts to support the thousands of firefighters who are trying to contain and extinguish these fires, a help that was publicly thanked by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, the source added.

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