Notre Dame Cathedral, the 861-year-old gothic landmark in the heart of France, hosted its first mass Sunday morning since a devastating fire in 2019 nearly destroyed it, a day after leaders from around the world attended its re-opening ceremony.
Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over mass Sunday morning and consecrated a new bronze altar, according to the Associated Press. Almost 170 Bishops from France and elsewhere around the world attended the mass, alongside priests from parishes in Paris and priests from Eastern-rite Catholic church.
In total, about 2,500 people attended the closed-off mass, including French president Emmanuel Macron. He did not receive communion at mass, in line with France’s deeply secular political norms. Many worshippers stayed after mass to take pictures of the interior of Notre Dame and pray intimately at chapels devoted to various saints.
A Catholic landmark for centuries, Notre Dame’s restoration is a triumphant demonstration of spiritual resilience and renewal after the church was rebuilt in a tight five and a half year window.
Macron ambitiously set the five year course for restoring Notre Dame and was one of many world leaders who came to at ceremony Saturday marking its re-opening. President-elect Donald Trump and first lady Jill Biden represented the U.S. at the ceremony. Billionaire Elon Musk, a top ally of Trump’s, was also at the ceremony and praised the beauty of Notre Dame.
While there, Trump met with Macron and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whose nation continues to fight a war for national survival against Russia. On Sunday, Trump called for an immediately cease-fire to halt the fighting in Ukraine and urged the two sides to come to the negotiating table.
“Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration, and praise,” Pope Francis said in a message read during the ceremony and address to Ulrich.
“Dear faithful of Paris and France, this house, which our Heavenly Father inhabits, is yours: you are its living stones,” the Pope added.
Ulrich marked the re-opening Saturday by knocking on the doors of Notre Dame and opening them for the world to see the exquisite grandeur of the cathedral. Upon doing so, Notre Dame’s famous organ came back to life and choirs basked the church in glorious melodies suitable for the occasion.
It took almost $1 billion of donations and thousands of workers to rebuild Notre Dame, as national pride and unwavering faith allowed the difficult process to be completed on time for Macron’s deadline. Refurbished stained-glass windows and newly cleaned limestone combine with traditional chandeliers and modern lights to bring an overwhelming abundance of light to the cathedral, a fitting reflection of its spiritual significance for untold numbers of devotees.
For the French, Notre Dame’s re-opening is a rare moment of national unity for a nation deeply divided politically. In maintaining the sense of unity, Ulrich announced Notre Dame will be having eight days of special religious services to bring together local parishioners and international pilgrims seeking to experience the new Notre Dame.