Pope Francis stands with France and is praying for Roman Catholics and Parisians alike after a devastating fire raged through the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Vatican said on Tuesday. “The pope is close to France, he is praying for French Catholics and for the people of Paris in face of the terrible fire which has ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral,” the head of the Vatican press office, Alessandro Gisotti, tweeted. “He offers his prayers to those trying to face up to this dramatic situation,” AFP quoted Gisotti as saying.