PARIS: France marked the reopening of the newly renovated Notre Dame cathedral with a special church service on Saturday evening, with a standing ovation for firefighters who battled a devastating fire in 2019. During the 12th century the famous structure was saved.
The two-hour service, attended by various world leaders including US President Donald Trump, began with the Archbishop of Paris knocking three times on the cathedral’s door.
“Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to gather together in joy the children of God from far away,” Archbishop Laurent Ulrich ordered, striking a wooden staff made from ceiling beams that had been erected five years earlier. He survived the fire.
Seated in the front row with French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honor, Trump and other guests marveled at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting.
In a short speech, Macron expressed his “gratitude to the French nation” for the recovery work that had been achieved so rapidly over the past five years.
France has “rediscovered what great nations can do – achieve the impossible”, he said.
‘mercy’
One of the most moving moments came when firefighters in their protective work clothes marched through the congregation to thunderous applause and chanted the word “Merci” (“thank you”) over the Gothic masterpiece’s intricate facade and iconic bell towers. went
A small crowd of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and strong winds along the Seine River to witness the renaissance of a monument that came close to collapse as flames engulfed its roof and spire. Dropped
“I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored,” Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwestern France, told AFP outside.
Reconstruction efforts cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed by donations, despite predictions that it could take decades to reopen within a five-year deadline. with
Workers have had to overcome lead contamination, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the military general overseeing the project who died while hiking in the Pyrenees last year.
Saturday’s service included classical music, the cathedral’s choir as well as some frenetic organ playing during the “reawakening” of the 8,000-pipe instrument that is considered the cathedral’s voice and soul.
‘The world is going mad’
Notre Dame’s renaissance at a difficult time for the country was held up by Macron as an example of French creativity and resilience.
The sense of national achievement in restoring the Paris icon has been tempered by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when Prime Minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote in parliament.
Macron is hoping the reopening will provide a momentary sense of national pride and unity — much like the Paris Olympics did in July and August.
It pulled off a major coup by attracting Trump along with about 40 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was applauded as he entered Notre Dame.
Macron hosted trilateral talks with Zelenskiy and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, discussing future US military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russian aggression.
Trump has vowed to end the nearly three-year war in Ukraine as soon as he takes office on January 20, raising fears in Kiev that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia.
“We all want peace,” Zelenskiy said. “But it’s very important to us … that peace is for all of us and that there is no possibility of Russia, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or any other aggressor ever coming back.” No.” On the presidential website.
A surprising absence on Saturday was the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
It sent a message to the French public and weighed in on a row over whether places of worship and tourist attractions should remain free to enter.
The “enormous” number set to visit Notre-Dame should be welcomed “generously and free of charge”, he said, clearly opposing the French Ministry of Culture’s proposal to charge for admission.
The exact cause of the 2019 fire has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely cause.
On Sunday, the first mass with hundreds of bishops and priests will take place at 10:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), followed by a second service at 6:30 p.m. that will be open to the public.