France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened its doors on Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019.
The restoration, an astonishing achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has championed the ambitious timetable – and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes.
Under the illuminated stained glass, many world leaders, dignitaries and worshipers will gather in the evening to mark the occasion – a rare moment of unity against a backdrop of global divisions and conflicts.
President-elect Donald Trump, US First Lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are among 1,500 guests attending the reopening celebration under the soaring Gothic arches of Notre Dame, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich.
Due to strong winds expected Saturday evening in Paris, the French Presidential Palace and the Paris Archdiocese said Friday that the entire opening ceremony will be held inside Notre Dame, instead of starting in the cathedral’s forecourt as initially planned.
A sign of hope
Notre Dame’s priest, the Rev. Olivier Ribado Dumas, says the cathedral is “more than just a French monument” and a beloved treasure of world cultural heritage.
“The cathedral is a wonderful symbol of unity,” the university’s rector said. “A glimmer of hope, because what seemed impossible has become possible.”
Saturday’s events will combine solemn religious traditions with a formal presidential address and cultural grandeur, beginning with Ulrich symbolically reopening the great wooden doors of Notre Dame.
By tapping them three times with a stick made of charred wood salvaged from the cathedral’s fire-ravaged ceiling, he will announce that the cathedral is open for worship again.
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Huguette Euphrasie’s mother, Marie Yolande, 79, is battling cancer. As she gazed intently at the towers of Notre Dame, the daughter on Saturday appealed to the cathedral for help and prayed on the day the memorial reopened.
“It has great spiritual value to me,” said Euphrasi, as he gathered with people from around the world to watch the reopening from screens on nearby riverbanks. “It’s very moving.”
Solemn ritual
Psalms, prayers and hymns will fill the cavernous space as the cathedral’s thundering organ, silenced since the fire, will be awakened. The 8,000-pipe instrument, restored and cleaned of toxic lead dust, will answer the archbishop’s call, with four organists performing an impromptu rendition of the tunes.
Later in the evening, a star-studded concert will take center stage inside the cathedral to honor its resurrection and those who worked to restore it, and deliver a universal message of harmony. Pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Pretty Yende are among the world-famous artists scheduled to perform.
On Sunday, Ulrich will preside over the opening mass and consecrate the cathedral’s new altar, designed by contemporary artist Guillaume Bardet to replace the altar that was crushed under the burning tower in the fire.
Unity in a time of global challenges
The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of deep global unrest, with wars breaking out in Ukraine and the Middle East.
For Catholics, the priest of Notre Dame said the cathedral “holds the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and nurturing presence.”
“It’s a great symbol of unity,” Dumas said.
The array of dignitaries coming to Paris from Africa to the Middle East and the United States underscores the importance of the cathedral as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.
Macron’s political problems
The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the beleaguered Macron, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the country’s political landscape into further turmoil.
The French president, who described the reopening of Notre Dame as a “shock of hope,” will address the gathering. He hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and demonstrate France’s unity and resilience under his leadership, completing the restoration of Notre Dame in just five years – a timeline that seemed improbable to many.
Macron’s presidency is now facing its most serious crisis after the government collapsed this week in a historic vote of no confidence that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
The vote came after months of political deadlock following early elections. Calls are now increasing from opposition forces for Macron’s resignation. But on Thursday he pledged 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 problems and social unrest, celebrations of Notre Dame’s birth are a stark contrast to the crisis.
Security measures are tight for this global event
Security will be tight over the weekend, a repeat of measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Ile de la Cité – the small island in the Seine River that houses Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris – is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police trucks and barricades blocked off cobblestone streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers wearing body armor and police dogs patrolled the embankments. Special security detail follows Trump.
Public viewing areas along the southern bank of the Seine River are scheduled to accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens.
For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement, but a global one – after its reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors a year, up from 12 million before the fire.
In the wake of the 2019 fire, nearly $1 billion in donations quickly poured in from around the world, demonstrating Notre Dame’s global appeal.
Among those who traveled from afar to reopen was Canadian Noelle Alexandria.
“It’s not the first time (Notre Dame) has been on the verge of ruin, and every time it’s happened, it’s always managed to bounce back. Not many of us can really say that we’ll do the same, and we’ll be able to keep coming back.” No matter what tragedy befalls us, “but it did,” Alexandria said.
– With files from John Lister and Sylvie Courbet in Paris
