The word ‘Merci’ was projected on to the front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris as it reopened, in thanks for its salvation after a devastating fire that brought the building close to collapse five years ago.
The first responders who helped preserve the Gothic masterpiece and some of those who subsequently restored it received a standing ovation after the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, struck the doors of Notre-Dame three times with his crozier before symbolically reopening the building.
“I stand before you to express the gratitude of the French nation, our gratitude to all those who saved, helped and rebuilt the cathedral,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“Tonight we can together share joy and pride. Long live Notre-Dame de Paris, long live the republic and long live France.”
Minutes earlier, the cathedral’s bells rang out and Mr Macron welcomed guests including US president-elect Donald Trump.
Pope Francis said it was a day of “joy, celebration and praise.”
In a message read aloud, the pope hoped “the rebirth of this admirable church would constitute a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France”.
The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, was also in attendance and said he was honoured to represent the bishops and people of Ireland at the ceremony.
He said: “Today I am honoured to represent the bishops and people of Ireland, and am joined by bishops from Europe and by civic leaders from around the world.”
The 860-year-old medieval building has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting, its flying buttresses and carved stone gargoyles returned to their past glory and white stone and gold decorations shining brightly once again.
Mr Trump shook hands with Britain’s Prince William and heads of state and government as he made his way to the front of the cathedral to sit next to Mr Macron in the front row.
Earlier, guests had stood and applauded as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walked into the cathedral.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close adviser in Trump’s transition team, also attended, as did Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former French presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Earlier, tourists, who still cannot go inside the cathedral, snapped pictures with the restored building in the background as final preparations for the event went on inside.
“It was very sad to see it burnt down and all black and ashy but amazing to see it rebuilt. Yeah, it’s very special,” said 26-year-old US tourist Amanda Nguyen.
Some Parisians were particularly thrilled.
“What does Notre-Dame mean to me? This. Look, it’s here,” said careworker Pascal Tordeux, displaying a tattoo on his arm representing the cathedral. “It means everything.”
“I saw the construction every day from my window, the spire being brought down, being brought back. I saw it burn, I saw it rise again. I followed it day by day,” said Mr Tordeux, who lives across the river from Notre-Dame.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, dismayed Parisians rushed to the scene and TV viewers worldwide watched horrified as the fire raged through the cathedral.
“The planet was shaken on that day,” Mr Macron said ahead of the event. “The shock of the reopening will – I believe and I want to believe – be as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope.”
Trump, Macron, Zelensky meet in Paris
Mr Trump, Mr Macron and Mr Zelensky had a trilateral meeting ahead of the cathedral cermony.
Mr Zelensky and European leaders have been concerned that Mr Trump, who takes office next month, could withdraw US military aid to Ukraine at a crucial juncture in Kyiv’s battle to repel Russia.
Mr Zelensky said the meeting was “good and productive” and that the three men agreed to continue working together.
“President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him,” Mr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.”
Mr Trump was on his first trip overseas since winning last month’s presidential election and the visit to Paris was seen as offering Mr Macron an early opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and the incoming president, a role the French leader has relished in the past.
Mr Macron is a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine’s fight, while Mr Trump feels European nations need to pay more for their common defence.
He has said a negotiated settlement is needed to end the Ukraine war.
Arriving at the Élysée Palace, Mr Trump told Mr Macron they had enjoyed “really great success” working together during his first term in office.
“And it certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that,” Mr Trump added.
The meeting between the three men lasted about 20 minutes.
Thousands worked on restoration
Forecast strong winds mean the non-religious part of the celebrations, including Mr Macron’s speech, which had been set to be held outside the cathedral, will also be held inside.
Tomorrow morning, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place, followed by a second service in the evening which will be open to the public.
Would-be visitors can now book a free ticket online, on the cathedral’s website.
But on the first day bookings could be made for the coming days, all tickets were gone, a message on the site said.
Group visits will be allowed next year – from 1 February for religious groups or from 9 June for tourists with guides.
The Catholic Church expects the cathedral to welcome 15 million visitors each year.
Thousands of experts – from carpenters and stonemasons to stained glass window artists – worked around the clock for the last five years, using age-old methods to restore, repair or replace everything that was destroyed or damaged.
“Notre-Dame is more than a Parisian or French monument. It’s also a universal monument,” said historian Damien Berne.
“It’s a landmark, an emblem, a point of reference that reassures in a globalised world where everything evolves permanently,” said Mr Berne, a member of the scientific council for the restoration.
The cathedral’s first stone was laid in 1163, and construction continued for much of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Victor Hugo helped make the cathedral a symbol of Paris and France when he used it as a setting for his 1831 novel ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’.
Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed in Hollywood movies, an animated Disney adaptation and in musicals.
So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world – more than €840 million, according to the French president’s office – there are still funds left over for further investment in the building.
