Notre Dame Reopens, Welcomes Dignitaries from Multiple Countries

On the evening of the 7th, the French officials held a ceremony for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The Archbishop of Paris, Ulrich, symbolically knocked on the doors of Notre Dame, marking the reopening of the cathedral.

Due to poor weather on the day, all ceremonies were held inside the cathedral. The French President Macron and his wife, US President-elect Trump, Jill Biden representing the current US President, Ukrainian President Zelensky, UK’s Prince William, Elon Musk accompanying Trump, along with former French Presidents Sarkozy and Hollande, were in attendance. Approximately two to three thousand people attended the ceremony inside Notre Dame.

With numerous world leaders attending, security measures around Notre Dame and its surrounding areas were exceptionally tight.

The ceremony began with the screening of a short film documenting the fire at Notre Dame and its reconstruction. Following the film, representatives of the rescue and reconstruction workers entered and took their seats, receiving thunderous applause from the audience.

Macron delivered a speech lasting over 10 minutes, expressing heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped restore Notre Dame. He recalled the painful memories of the Notre Dame fire and emphasized that the cathedral's renewed glory was inseparable from everyone's efforts.

Notre Dame, originally built in the 12th century, is one of France's most iconic monuments. On April 15, 2019, the roof and spire of Notre Dame were destroyed in a sudden fire, but the main structure was preserved.

On the morning of the 8th, Notre Dame will host its first religious event since reopening. From the 8th onwards, Notre Dame is officially open to the public. Admission is free, but the public is advised to book their visit through the Notre Dame website or mobile app to reduce waiting time. Notre Dame also noted that the reopening does not signify the end of restoration work, which is expected to continue until around 2030.