Paris, December 9, 2024 – The Europe Today: Notre Dame Cathedral held its inaugural mass on Sunday, marking the historic reopening of the iconic Parisian landmark after a comprehensive five-year restoration following a devastating fire in 2019.
The ceremony, led by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, 150 bishops, and over 100 priests, alongside a congregation of dignitaries and the faithful. The archbishop consecrated a newly installed altar, replacing the one destroyed in the fire, and led prayers in the rejuvenated space.
“Whether you are here in person in the cathedral or in front of a screen, including perhaps under the rain, I greet you with intense emotion,” said Ulrich. “This morning, the pain of April 15, 2019, has been erased,” he added, referencing the date of the catastrophic blaze.
The cathedral’s reopening, accompanied by a formal ceremony on Saturday attended by world leaders, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, was described by Macron as a testament to national resolve. “We have rediscovered what great nations can do — achieve the impossible,” he said, expressing gratitude for the 700-million-euro ($750 million) restoration effort funded by global donations.
Public Participation and Upcoming Plans
Following the private inaugural mass, a second service open to the public welcomed around 2,500 worshippers, with free tickets released online. Enthusiastic attendees braved rain to witness the transformation of Notre Dame.
“It’s incredible to see Notre Dame transformed,” remarked Cyriac de Belsunce, a 21-year-old Parisian scout. “It’s changed, it’s more radiant. There’s a lot more light.”
The cathedral will officially reopen to visitors on December 16, managed through an online reservation system. Authorities anticipate an increase in annual visitors from the pre-fire figure of 12 million to an estimated 14–15 million.
Continuing Restoration
Despite the milestone, parts of the restoration remain ongoing. The lead roofing base and statues of apostles and saints, removed before the fire for preservation, will not be reinstalled until 2025.
The cause of the 2019 fire remains undetermined, though investigators suspect an accidental electrical fault.
A Symbolic Moment for France
The reopening comes amid political challenges for Macron, whose government faces difficulties forming a stable coalition following snap elections earlier this year. Archbishop Ulrich acknowledged national concerns, saying, “I prayed also for our country that is looking to the future with worry.”
The ceremony underscored the blend of spiritual significance and national pride, as groups of worshippers gathered outside Notre Dame, undeterred by the rain. Monique Kashale, a 75-year-old attendee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed her devotion: “For Jesus Christ I can put up with it, for the Virgin Mary it is bearable.”
Notre Dame’s restoration not only rejuvenates an architectural masterpiece but also reaffirms its status as a cherished cultural and religious symbol for France and the world.
