World
December 7, 2024 21:40
paris - World leaders gather under heavy security for the reopening of Notre-Dame in Paris, five years after a devastating fire destroyed the iconic cathedral.
The doors of Notre-Dame were ceremonially reopened on Saturday evening, five years after a destructive fire. Archbishop Ulrich of Paris, after invoking the Holy Virgin, struck the doors of the restored church with his staff, which then swung open. He then led President Macron and his wife inside amidst choir singing, where numerous heads of state and government leaders awaited.
"We are here. The world is watching us. Let us reopen Notre-Dame!" Macron wrote as the archbishop performed the opening rituals. Macron emphasized in his speech inside that the church had been spared greater destruction thanks to the bravery of firefighters who climbed the facade, dove into the fire, and prevented the sixteen bells from falling. According to him, the restoration was only possible through the collaboration of hundreds of people. "We must cherish this lesson in fragility, humility, and determination and never forget that every person matters," he said.
Among the guests in the church were firefighters who helped extinguish the fire and craftsmen who participated in the restoration. They received a minutes-long applause from the other guests.
Earlier in the day, Zelenski briefed Trump on the situation in Ukraine. French President Macron was also present.
"President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him," Zelenski wrote after the discussions. According to Zelenski, he, Trump, and Macron have agreed to continue working together. "We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just manner."
Numerous heads of state, government leaders, royal members, and celebrities - including billionaire Elon Musk - are in Paris for the ceremonies. The cathedral was heavily damaged by fire in 2019 and has since been restored. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof is present on behalf of the Netherlands.
Pope Francis declined the invitation. A bishop later said he did so because the over 850-year-old cathedral should be the "star" of the ceremony itself.
It was decided on Friday evening that the entire ceremony would be held indoors due to inclement weather conditions. Weather service Météo France predicted wind gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
The shock among Parisians was immense when flames emerged from Notre-Dame in April 2019, causing the roof to collapse. It is still unclear what caused the fire, but according to investigators, it was likely an accident during restoration work. Macron immediately promised to repair all the damage. The restoration ultimately cost around 700 million euros.
France has had a turbulent political week, with a vote of no confidence and the resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Macron addressed the country on Thursday evening regarding the political crisis and also mentioned the restoration of Notre-Dame. He said the project was an example of what the country can achieve when people work together.