WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden will not be traveling to Rome this week as initially planned for a meeting with Pope Francis. Instead, he will focus on the wildfires in Los Angeles, according to the White House statement issued late Wednesday.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that after returning on Wednesday evening from Los Angeles, Biden decided to cancel his trip to Italy to concentrate on managing the federal response to the ongoing crisis.

This trip was supposed to be Biden’s final overseas visit as president, set to leave Washington for Italy on Thursday night to meet the pope before his term ends on January 20. Jean-Pierre did not mention if there would be a chance to reschedule the visit before the end of his presidency, but indicated that more information would be provided later.

During his time in Los Angeles, Biden received a briefing from local fire authorities about the wildfires intensified by strong Santa Ana winds. He assured them of the federal government’s full support in their efforts to combat the fires and in helping with recovery afterwards.

Biden was in Los Angeles to announce the establishment of two national monuments in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Additionally, he celebrated the birth of his first great-grandchild, as his eldest granddaughter, Naomi Biden, who lives in Los Angeles, welcomed a baby boy.