During the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral, President Andrzej Duda met with President-elect Donald Trump for the first time since his victory in the November election. In Paris, Duda also had the opportunity to talk with, among others, Elon Musk. He also warmly greeted the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Notre Dame Cathedral was officially opened on Saturday after reconstruction. It was accompanied by grand celebrations. It was started by the Archbishop of Paris, ceremoniously opening the doors to the cathedral. There were also guests from all over the world, including heads of state, including President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect Donald Trump and President Andrzej Duda. French President Emmanuel Macron was also present and gave a speech in the rebuilt cathedral.
Duda's short conversation with Trump
The recording posted on the website of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland shows a short exchange of words between Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump, which took place inside Notre Dame. During the conversation, Trump warmly patted Duda on the shoulder.
President Duda also had the opportunity to talk to Elon Musk at the Elysée Palace. The billionaire, who is to head the Department of State Efficiency in the new Trump administration, was also a guest at the evening opening ceremony of the cathedral.
Elon Musk and Andrzej DudaKPRP
The Chancellery of the President also published a photo of Andrzej Duda in the company of Emmanuel Macron and the French first lady.
Andrzej Duda, Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte MacronPrzemysław Keler/KPRP
On Saturday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, also appeared at Notre Dame Cathedral. The crowd gathered in the temple greeted him with a standing ovation. President Duda warmly welcomed the Ukrainian leader and exchanged a few words with him.
Earlier in the day, on the sidelines of the cathedral opening ceremony, an unannounced tripartite meeting between Trump, Zelensky and Macron took place.
Foreign guests
Jill Biden, wife of outgoing President Joe Biden, also arrived in Paris from the United States.
The ceremony was also attended by the British Prince William and the monarchs from Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Norway. Presidents Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella came from Germany and Italy. Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece were represented by the heads of state Rumen Radev, Zoran Milanović and Ekaterini Sakielaropulu, respectively. They were joined by the presidents of Estonia – Alar Karis, Finland – Alexander Stubb and Lithuania – Gitanas Nauseda and the Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer, as well as the presidents of Georgia and Kosovo: Salome Zurabishvili and Vjosa Osmani and the prime ministers of Armenia – Nikol Pashinyan and Serbia – Milosz Vuczević.
The first mass after the fire was planned for Sunday at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Main photo source: KPRP