France’s Notre Dame Cathedral reopened on Saturday, five years after a fire nearly destroyed it. Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich symbolically knocked on the cathedral doors and entered, marking the opening after completion of extensive restoration work.
Hundreds of dignitaries attended a two-hour ceremony inside the 12th-century landmark. Ulrich carried a staff made from a surviving roof beam and wore new vestments. Attendees observed the cleaned walls, new furniture, and updated lighting.
Outside, despite rain and wind, Parisians and tourists watched the reopening. “I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored,” a a dentist from southwest France Marie Jean told AFP.
The reconstruction cost approximately 750 million dollars, funded by donations. The project faced challenges including lead pollution, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the death of the initial project manager. Philippe Jost, who took over the project, called it a “great collective success and a source of pride for all of France.”
Saturday’s ceremony included prayer, organ music, and hymns. A pre-recorded concert featuring Lang Lang and possibly Pharrell Williams was played due to the stormy weather.
French President Emmanuel Macron and numerous other world leaders attended, including incoming US President Donald Trump. Macron said the reopening proves “we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible.”
Pope Francis sent a message to be read at the ceremony. The cause of the 2019 fire remains undetermined, with investigators suspecting an accidental electrical fault. Public masses will resume on Sunday. Increased security measures, involving thousands of police officers, were implemented for the opening ceremony.
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