The cathedral tells us that our dreams – even the most daring dreams – are only possible if everyone participates in them, emphasized French President Emmanuel Macron at the opening ceremony of Notre Dame, which was rebuilt after the great fire of 2019. The event was attended by many guests from around the world, including President Andrzej Duda, newly elected US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Saturday in Paris, the opening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral was held, which was rebuilt after the fire of 2019. The ceremony began with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocking on the main door of the cathedral with his cruiser. The answer was a hymn sung by the choir of Notre Dame Maitres – a symbolic response of the temple, silent after the fire, to the call of the priest. With a third knock and a third song, the door opened.
The symbolic knocking on the door of the cathedral in Paris by the archbishopPAP/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL
Inside, the moment of the fire on April 15, 2019 is remembered in the frame of the film. Firefighters who saved the temple passed through the main fiber; There was a storm of applause. On the facade of Notre Dame, a large illuminated inscription appeared: MERCI (in French, thank you).
The word “MERCI” is displayed in Notre DameReuters
The firemen who saved the temple from the fire walked through the middle of the navePAP/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL.
Guests from all over the world, handshake between Duda and Trump
Many guests came to the ceremony. Among them were President Andrzej Duda and US President-elect Donald Trump. The Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland published in October with the attached record from inside the church.
It reads: “President Andrzej Duda with President-elect Donald Trump at the inauguration of Notre Dame Cathedral.” A short video shows Trump congratulating Duda. She walks up to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.
The event was also attended by: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (earlier that day, Trump, Zelensky and Macron held trilateral talks at the Elysee Palace); Jill Biden, the wife of Joe Biden, the ousted president, Prince William of Great Britain, the monarchs of Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Norway, the presidents of Germany and Italy.
Opening Ceremony of Notre Dame CathedralEPA/PAP
View of Notre DamePAP / EPA / LUDOVIC MARIN / pool
Macron: The bells of Notre Dame are ringing again
After a short musical block, President Macron gave a speech. He emphasized the “gratitude of the French people” to those who helped to save and restore Notre Dame. He said the temple was saved through “bravery and courage” as well as “brotherhood” from other continents and different religions.
He thanked the masters and teachers of various specialties, engineers, historians, conservators and architects, as well as those who contributed to the reconstruction of the temple. – Every hint was needed. We have rediscovered what great nations can do – to achieve the impossible, Macron said.
Emmanuel Macron, his wife and the mayor of Paris in front of the pool of Notre DameEPA
He called to “appreciate this lesson of humility and will”. “Let's never forget that everyone counts,” he added. According to Macron, the Church tells us that “our dreams – even the wildest – are only possible if everyone submits to them.”
Macron emphasized that “the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again” and that this is “the music of hope known to Paris, France and the world”. The bells of Notre Dame “have accompanied our history,” said the French president. As he described, they rang for Napoleon, who was crowned in the cathedral, or when the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation was celebrated in 1944.
– Believers will soon come to pray. The world will discover a rebuilt and beautiful cathedral, he added.
Opening Ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral
A letter from Francis
In a letter read at Notre-Dame, Pope Francis expressed hope that the revival of this temple “will be a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France.” As he wrote, this place will “soon again be visited and admired by crowds of people of many different backgrounds, origins, religions, languages, and cultures,” many of whom are searching for “the absolute and the meaning of their lives.”
He thanked the firefighters and authorities for their determination. He also pointed to the “great international generosity” that contributed to the reconstruction of the cathedral.
In the letter, Francis invited them to enter the cathedral free of charge. As the Catholic newspaper “La Croix” reports, this is the answer to the proposal of the Minister of Culture of France, Rachida Dati, who proposed the introduction of income money.
The Pope was not present at Saturday's ceremony, although he will be in France next week – in Corsica, where he will visit in mid-December. He will then meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, who will arrive in Corsica.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN
