PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame cathedral reopened Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old monument in 2019.
The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took almost two centuries to build, is widely seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline – and a welcome one respite from his domestic political woes. .
Under the luminous stained glass windows, many world leaders, dignitaries and worshipers will gather in the evening to mark the occasion – a rare moment of unity against the backdrop of global division and conflict.
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America’s first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump will join nearly 50 heads of state and government and personalities – a total of 1,500 guests – to attend the reopening celebration under the soaring Gothic arches of Notre Dame, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich .
Instead of starting from the cathedral forecourt as initially planned, and because of high winds forecast in Paris on Saturday evening, the French presidential palace and the Paris diocese said on Friday that the entire opening ceremony will take place at Notre Dame.
A sign of hope
The rector of Notre Dame, the Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, says the cathedral is “more than just a French monument” and a beloved treasure of the world’s cultural heritage.
“The cathedral is a beautiful symbol of unity,” said the rector. “A sign of hope, because what seemed impossible has become possible.”
Saturday’s events will combine solemn religious tradition with cultural grandeur, beginning with Ulrich’s symbolic reopening of Notre Dame’s great wooden doors.
By tapping it three times with a staff made from charred wood salvaged from the cathedral’s fire-ravaged roof, he will once again declare the cathedral open for worship.
Solemn rituals
Psalms, prayers and hymns will fill the cavernous space as the cathedral’s thundering organ, silenced since the fire, is brought back to life. The 8,000-pipe instrument, carefully restored and cleaned of toxic lead dust, will respond to the archbishop’s invocation, with four organists performing an improvised interplay of melodies.
Later in the evening, a star-studded concert will take center stage at the cathedral and pay tribute to its resurrection and to those who worked to restore it, with a universal message of harmony. Pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and soprano Pretty Yende are among the world-renowned artists scheduled to perform.
On Sunday, Ulrich will lead the opening Mass and inaugurate the cathedral’s new altar, designed by contemporary artist Guillaume Bardet to replace the one that was crushed under the flaming spire in the fire. Nearly 170 bishops from France and abroad will attend the Mass, in addition to priests from all 113 parishes of the Paris diocese.
Unity in times of global challenges
The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of great unrest around the world, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
For Catholics and the rector of Notre Dame, the cathedral carries “the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a motherly and embracing presence.”
“It is a beautiful symbol of unity, a sign of hope,” Dumas said.
Other dignitaries coming to Paris for the rebirth of Notre Dame include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary General António Guterres, who underlined the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.
Macron’s political problems
The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled Macron, whose prime minister resigned this week, throwing the country’s political scene into further turmoil.
The French president, who has called the reopening of Notre Dame “a jolt of hope”, will address the gathering. He had hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase the unity and resilience of France under his leadership.
The ambitious five-year recovery timeline, announced just a day after the 2019 fire, had seemed unlikely to many, but its achievement is a testament to Macron’s can-do attitude.
His presidency is facing its gravest crisis after the fall of the government this week in a historic vote of no confidence that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months – the shortest term of any government in the history of the Fifth Republic.
The vote followed months of political deadlock following snap elections. Calls are now growing louder from centrists and opposition forces on the far left and right for Macron, whose approval ratings have plummeted, to resign.
But he pledged in an address to the nation on Thursday evening to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he would appoint a new prime minister within days.
As France struggles with economic woes and mounting social unrest, the celebrations of Notre Dame’s rebirth stand in stark contrast to the crisis.
Tight security
Security will be tight throughout the weekend, following on from measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
The Île de la Cité – the small island in the River Seine where Notre Dame is located – will be closed to tourists and non-residents, and access will be limited to invited guests and those who live on the island.
Public viewing areas along the south bank of the Seine can accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can watch the festivities on large screens.
The reopening of the cathedral doors by Archbishop Ulrich will be followed by a liturgical service and the reawakening of the great organ, ending with the festive concert that will honor the cultural and spiritual significance of Notre Dame.
For many, the rebirth of Notre Dame is not just a French achievement, but a global one: after its reopening, the cathedral is expected to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.
After the 2019 fire, nearly $1 billion in donations quickly poured in from all corners of the world, a testament to Notre Dame’s universal appeal.
