Notre Dame Cathedral Notre Dame Cathedral

France's famous Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen its doors this Saturday, marking the first time since the devastating fire in 2019 that nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark. The restoration, completed in just five years, is a remarkable achievement for a building that took nearly 200 years to construct.

This milestone is seen as a significant victory for French President Emmanuel Macron, who pushed for the ambitious timeline, offering him a much-needed break from his domestic political troubles. Under the cathedral’s beautiful stained glass, world leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers will gather in the evening to celebrate this event,  a rare moment of unity amid ongoing global conflicts and divisions.

America's first lady Jill Biden, Britain's Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump, along with nearly 50 heads of state and government and personalities — 1,500 guests in all — will attend the reopening celebration under Notre Dame's soaring Gothic arches, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich.

Instead of starting from the cathedral's forecourt as initially planned and because of strong winds forecast for Saturday evening in Paris, the French presidential palace and the Paris diocese said Friday the entire opening ceremony will be held inside Notre Dame. 

A Sign of Hope

Notre Dame's rector, Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, says the cathedral is "more than just a French monument” and a beloved treasure of world's cultural heritage. “The cathedral is a magnificent symbol of unity," the rector said. "A sign of hope, because what seemed impossible has become possible.” 

Saturday's events will blend solemn religious tradition with cultural grandeur, starting with Ulrich symbolically reopening Notre Dame's grand wooden doors. Tapping them three times with a staff crafted from charred wood salvaged from the cathedral's fire-ravaged roof, he will declare the cathedral open for worship once more. 

Rituals and Celebration

The ceremony will blend solemn religious traditions with cultural festivities. The cathedral’s iconic organ, silenced since the fire, has been meticulously restored and will be played again. The 8,000-pipe instrument, cleaned of toxic lead dust, will fill the space with music as four organists perform an improvised harmony. Later in the evening, a star-studded concert will feature renowned artists like pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Pretty Yende, celebrating the cathedral’s resurrection and the hard work of those who restored it.

On Sunday, Archbishop Ulrich will lead the inaugural Mass and consecrate a new altar designed by contemporary artist Guillaume Bardet. This altar replaces the one destroyed in the fire, and the Mass will be attended by 170 bishops and priests from across France and beyond.

Unity in times of global challenges

The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound unrest world over, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics and Notre Dame's rector, the cathedral "carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.” 

“It is a magnificent symbol of unity, a sign of hope,” Dumas said.  Other dignitaries coming to Paris for Notre Dame's rebirth include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, underlining the cathedral's significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. 

Macron's Political Woes

The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to embattled Macron, whose prime minister resigned this week, plunging the nation's political scene into more turmoil. The French president, who has called Notre Dame's reopening “a jolt of hope,” will address the gathering. He had hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France's unity and resilience under his leadership. The ambitious five-year restoration timeline, announced just a day after the 2019 fire, had seemed improbable to many but its achievement serves as a testament to Macron's can-do attitude. 

His presidency faces its gravest crisis after the government's collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months — the shortest tenure of any government in the history of the Fifth Republic.  The vote followed months of political gridlock after 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 vowed in an address to the nation on Thursday night to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he'll name a new prime minister within days. 

As France struggles with economic woes and mounting social unrest, Notre Dame's rebirth celebrations are a stark contrast to the crisis. 

Intensive security measures

Security will be tight all through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.  The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame — will be closed to tourists and non-residents, with access restricted to invitees and those who live on the island. 

Public viewing areas along the Seine's southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. 

Archbishop Ulrich's reopening the cathedral doors will be followed by a liturgical service and the reawakening of the grand organ, ending with the celebratory concert that will honor Notre Dame's cultural and spiritual significance. 

For manyhouse of fun 200 free spins 2022, Notre Dame's rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.  Following the 2019 fire, nearly $1 billion in donations quickly poured in from every corner of the world, testifying to Notre Dame's universal appeal.

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