Pope Francis Pope FrancisNuns criticize Catholic group for giving Barr award for 'Christlike behavior' Pope seeks to prevent Mafia from using Virgin Mary imagery Pope: No one should seek to profit from pandemic MORE tweeted Tuesday that Catholics around the world stand united after a fire severely damaged the iconic Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

In a message Tuesday morning, the pope wrote that sorrow felt by those mourning the cathedral's near-destruction would be transformed into hope for rebuilding.

Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 16, 2019

A devastating fire Monday afternoon destroyed the 12th century cathedral's roof and famed steeple, though it reportedly left parts of the interior, including the church's historic stained-glass windows, largely undamaged.

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The cause of Monday's blaze has not yet been determined, but the centuries-old building was undergoing restoration that is thought to have possibly contributed to it.

The editor of Crux media, a Catholic news service, told Hill.TV on Tuesday that it was unlikely Francis would visit Notre Dame during Holy Week this year.

"He's supposed to do the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, the foot-washing ceremony, the Good Friday Via Crucis procession at Rome's Colosseum, and then, of course, the high Easter Sunday Mass," John Allen Jr. said.

"So it is deeply unlikely. However, having covered Francis for six years, the one thing that I can tell you is that the fact that something is unlikely doesn't mean it's not going to happen," he added. "So all I can tell you is stay tuned."