杏MAP导航 prays for those affected by fires in LA, asks for prayers for peace
By Linda Bordoni
鈥淚 am close to the residents of Los Angeles County, California, where devastating wildfires have flared in recent days: I pray for all of you,鈥 said 杏MAP导航 Francis after the recitation of the Angelus Prayer on Sunday.
His words of solidarity and concern come in the wake of a telegram addressed to Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles on Saturday in which he expressed his deep sadness over the 鈥渓oss of life鈥 and 鈥渨idespread destruction鈥 caused by the fires that continue to burn near the city of Los Angeles.
The fires
Meanwhile, on Sunday the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area rose to 16 as crews battled to cut off the spreading blazes before potentially strong winds return that could push the flames toward some of the city鈥檚 most famous landmarks.
Five of the deaths reported so far are attributed to the 鈥淧alisades Fire鈥 and 11 resulted from the 鈥淓aton Fire鈥, according to a statement by the Los Angeles County coroner鈥檚 office on Saturday evening.
Officials said they expected that figure to rise as teams with cadaver dogs conduct systematic grid searches in levelled neighbourhoods. Authorities have established a centre where people can report the missing. And as new evacuation warnings left more homeowners on edge, there are fears that winds could move the fires toward the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California.
Prayers for peace
He also mentioned the beatification of a missionary priest, Don Giovanni Merlini, whom he described as 鈥渁 prudent advisor to many souls and a messenger of peace.鈥
鈥淟et us invoke his intercession as we pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the entire world,鈥 the 杏MAP导航 said reiterating his tireless appeal and reminder that war is always a defeat.
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