The cathedral tells us that our dreams – even the boldest ones – are only possible if everyone engages in them, emphasized French President Emmanuel Macron during the opening ceremony of Notre Dame, rebuilt after the great fire of 2019. This event was attended by many guests from all over the world, including President Andrzej Duda, US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral, rebuilt after the 2019 fire, took place in Paris on Saturday. The ceremony began with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocking on the main door of the cathedral with his crosier. The response was the singing of a psalm performed by the cathedral choir of Maitrise Notre Dame – a symbolic response of the temple, which was silent after the fire, to the call of the priest. With the third knock and third chant, the door opened.
Symbolic knocking on the door of the cathedral in Paris by the archbishopPAP/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL
Inside, on film frames, the moment of the fire on April 15, 2019 is recalled. Firefighters who saved the temple passed through the main nave; There was a storm of applause. A huge illuminated inscription appeared on the facade of Notre Dame: MERCI (in French, thank you).
The word “MERCI” displayed on Notre DameReuters
The firefighters who saved the temple in the fire walked down 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 was President Andrzej Duda and US President-elect Donald Trump. The Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland published an entry on October with an attached recording from the interior of the cathedral.
It was captioned: “President Andrzej Duda with President-elect Donald Trump during the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral.” The short video shows Trump greeting Duda. She walks up to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.
The event was also attended by, among others, the leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky (earlier in the day Trump, Zelensky and Macron held trilateral talks in the Elysée Palace); Jill Biden, wife of outgoing President Joe Biden, British Prince William, monarchs from Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Norway, presidents of Germany and Italy.
Opening ceremony of Notre Dame CathedralEPA/PAP
View of Notre DamePAP/EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL
Macron: Notre Dame bells are ringing again
After a short musical block, President Macron delivered a speech. He emphasized the “gratitude of the French people” to those who helped save and rebuild Nortre Dame. He said the temple was saved by “bravery and courage” as well as “brotherhood” that came from other continents and different religions.
He thanked craftsmen and masters of various specialties, engineers and historians, conservators and architects, as well as those who donated to the reconstruction of the temple. – Every help and gesture was necessary. We have rediscovered what great nations could do – achieving the impossible, Macron said.
Emmanuel Macron, his wife and mayor of Paris in front of Notre DameEPA POOL
He appealed to “treasure this lesson of humility and will.” – Let us never forget that everyone counts – he added. According to Macron, the cathedral tells us “that our dreams – even the wildest ones – are only possible if everyone commits to them.”
Macron emphasized that “the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again” and it is “the music of hope known to Paris, France and the world.” The bells of Notre Dame “accompanied our history,” said the French president. As he described, they rang for Napoleon, who was crowning himself in the cathedral, or when celebrating the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation in 1944.
– The faithful will soon arrive to pray. The world will discover the cathedral rebuilt and beautified, he added.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN