President Joe Biden has canceled a planned trip to Rome to meet with Pope Francis in order to focus on the federal response to the wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area. The decision was made after Biden met with local authorities and emergency personnel battling the fires. The Vatican has not yet commented on the cancellation.
At least five people have been killed in the wildfires, prompting mandatory evacuations for over 100,000 individuals. Biden has pledged federal support to contain the fires and aid in reconstruction efforts, emphasizing that the government will remain committed for as long as necessary.
Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for the fires, allowing affected individuals in Los Angeles County access to funding for temporary housing, home repairs, and other assistance. His planned visit to Italy, including meetings with Italian officials, has been postponed.
As a Roman Catholic, Biden has met with Pope Francis multiple times, most recently in a private meeting in June during the G7 summit in Italy. This canceled trip to the Vatican was supposed to be his final international travel before leaving office later this month.
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