Notre Dame Cathedral will open its doors to the world on Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire in 2019. The iconic 12th-century cathedral will host a grand reopening ceremony attended by global leaders, including US President-elect Donald Trump, the first lady. Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
with a gathering of 1,500 guests for Notre Dame is reopeningPresident Emmanuel Macron sees the event as a moment of unification for a country grappling with political and economic challenges.
The ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM GMT, when the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will formally knock three times on the cathedral’s doors, symbolizing a new chapter in its history.
The event will include prayers, hymns and an organ performance by the cathedral’s choir, followed by a televised concert featuring international artists such as Chinese pianist Leng Leng, South African soprano Pretty Yende and US musician Pharrell Williams.
A race against time
A fire at Notre Dame shocked the world in April 2019, reducing its roof and iconic spire to ashes. Parisians and global viewers watched in dismay as firefighters battled to save the 850-year-old monument, immortalized in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, investigators believe it was accidental, possibly due to an electrical fault. After this, experts speculated that it could take decades to restore the cathedral. However, the restoration, which cost €700 million, was completed in just five years.
The cathedral now boasts ancient oaks, freshly scrubbed limestone walls and a vaulted wooden ceiling built with new furnishings, designed to honor its original splendor.
A forum for global diplomacy
President Macron invited several dignitaries to the reopening, hoping to use the event as a moment of national pride and international solidarity. Among the attendees, Donald Trump will be on his first foreign trip as president-elect.
The ceremony, however, will be notable for the absence of Pope Francis, as the pope is visiting the French island of Corsica. Instead, his message will be read to the congregation.
A new beginning amidst turmoil
The reopening comes at a challenging time for France, which is facing political instability after a no-confidence motion and the resignation of the prime minister following a budget crisis. Macron hopes the event, like the successful Paris Olympics earlier this year, will serve as a rallying point for national unity.
On Sunday, Notre Dame will host its first mass in years, led by 170 bishops and more than 100 Parisian priests, followed by another evening service open to the public.
