Notre Dame in Paris reopens five years after massive fire
Beloved monument finished its restoration work, celebrating with a mass and reopening services attended by world leaders.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened to the public after nearly being destroyed in a fire five years ago. Photo: Kyodo
The newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral held its first mass earlier this month. The beloved Paris monument nearly burned down in 2019 but has been fully renovated inside and fitted with a new roof and spire.
The inaugural mass was led by Paris archbishop Laurent Ulrich. More than 150 bishops and 100 priests from the capital were in attendance.
The archbishop led prayers and consecrated a new altar, which replaced the old one that was destroyed five years ago. The cathedral reopened to visitors on December 16.
During the reopening service attended by world leaders, including US president-elect Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the “gratitude of the French nation” for the restoration work since 2019.
The wonder had been in danger of collapsing during the April 2019 blaze. It was saved by firefighters pumping water onto the flames from the nearby River Seine.