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On Saturday December 7, 2024, President-elect Donald J. Trump will attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The visit to Paris marks his first trip abroad since winning the 2024 elections.
“It is an honor to announce that I will travel to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the reopening of the hotel Beautiful and historic Notre Dame Cathedral,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a fantastic job ensuring that Notre Dame is restored to its full glory and more.”
On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the more than 860-year-old cathedral, destroying its roof and iconic spire. As I stood before the ruins that night in the smoke-filled air, French President Emmanuel Macron made a promise that many thought impossible: “We will rebuild Notre Dame. Because that is what the French expect and because it is what our history deserves.”
FIRST LOOK AT THE RESTORED INTERIOR OF NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE RENEWAL FIRE
Five years later, “Our Lady of Paris” is ready to open its doors again. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of “companions” – workers and artisans – and the generous support of donors, what Macron called “the project of the century” is now complete.
The nave of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is seen on Friday, November 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (AP/Stephane de Sakutin)
In the recently restored Notre Dame, stripped of centuries of dirt, dust and soot, the stained glass windows gleam and marble statues sparkle. Atop the new spire stands a golden phoenix surrounded by flaming feathers, symbolizing the cathedral’s resurrection from the ashes.
Philippe Jost, Macron’s appointed head of reconstruction, told ’60 Minutes’ that Notre Dame was being restored with traditional materials and new fire safety features to ensure the world-famous French monument lasts at least another 860 years.
About 2,000 craftsmen replaced 1,300 cubic meters of stone, carved 1,500 oak pews and cleaned and tuned 8,000 organ pipes. The restoration project cost an estimated $737 million and was supported by 340,000 donors from 150 countries.
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Trump will attend the reopening together with nearly fifty heads of state and more than 150 Catholic bishops and priests from more than 100 parishes in the diocese of Paris.
The 2019 fire caused the spire of Notre Dame to collapse. (Philippe Wang/Getty Images)
Although Pope Francis will not attend, he previously mentioned the significance of the restoration and reopening of Notre Dame, calling it a “powerful and prophetic sign from the Lord.”
The celebration will begin with a solemn ceremony presided over by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, during which the doors of Notre Dame will be reopened and the thundering great organ will be blessed and brought back to life. The service also includes prayers, a blessing from the Archbishop and the singing of the Te Deum.
In addition, choirs from the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris will perform during the service. The large organ is played by Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois, Thierry Escaich and Thibault Fajole.
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The consecration of the high altar and the inaugural Mass will take place on Sunday, followed by a “fraternal buffet” for those in need. Sunday Mass will mark the beginning of an octave of reopening, inviting the public and the faithful to visit the cathedral. Now that Notre Dame is officially open to the public, festive events will take place for the rest of the year until Pentecost in June 2025.
The restoration and reopening of Notre Dame marks a new chapter in the cathedral’s splendor and history.
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