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On Saturday, December 7, 2024, President-elect Donald J. Trump will attend the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral. The visit to Paris will be his first overseas trip since winning the 2024 election.
“I am honored to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the reopening of the magnificent and historic Notre Dame Cathedral,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a great job of restoring Notre Dame Cathedral to its full level of glory, which is even more impressive.”
On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire tore through the more than 860-year-old cathedral, destroying its roof and iconic spire. That night, French President Emmanuel Macron stood in the smoky air in front of the ruins and made a promise that many thought impossible. “We will rebuild Notre Dame, because that is what the French expect and that is what our history deserves.”
First look inside Notre Dame Cathedral, restored five years after devastating fire
Five years later, Our Lady of Paris is ready to open its doors again. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of “comrades” (workers and artisans) and the generous support of donors, what Mr. Macron called “the project of the century” is now complete.
The nave of Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral photographed on Friday, November 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (AP/Stephane de Sactin)
In the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, centuries of dirt, dust, and grime have been removed, leaving the stained glass windows to shine and the marble statues to shine. A golden phoenix surrounded by burning feathers sits atop the new spire, symbolizing the cathedral's rise from the ashes.
Philippe Jost, who was appointed by President Macron to lead the reconstruction effort, said Notre-Dame Cathedral will be built using traditional materials and new fire protection equipment to ensure the world-famous French landmark can survive for at least another 860 years. He told “60 Minutes'' that it was repaired using
Approximately 2,000 craftsmen replaced 1,300 cubic meters of stone, cut 1,500 oak columns, 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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President Trump will attend the reopening event along with nearly 50 heads of state and more than 150 Catholic bishops and priests from more than 100 dioceses in the Diocese of Paris.
A fire in 2019 destroyed the spire atop Notre Dame Cathedral. (Philip Wang/Getty Images)
Pope Francis will not be attending, but he previously spoke about the importance of Notre Dame's restoration and reopening, calling it a “powerful prophetic sign from the Lord.”
The celebration begins with a solemn ceremony presided over by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, in which the doors of Notre-Dame Cathedral are reopened and the roaring grand organ is blessed and reawakened. The service also includes prayers, the archbishop's blessing, and the chanting of the Te Deum.
Additionally, the Paris Notre-Dame Maîtres choir will perform during the service. The magnificent organ will be played by Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois, Thierry Escache and Thibault Fayol.
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On Sunday, there will be a dedication of the high altar and an inaugural Mass, followed by a “fraternity buffet'' for those in need. Sunday Mass begins with the reopening of the first octave, when the public and faithful are invited to visit the cathedral. Once Notre-Dame Cathedral officially opens to the public, celebratory events will continue throughout the rest of the year until the Feast of Pentecost in June 2025.
The restoration and reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral marks a new chapter in the cathedral's splendor and history.
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