The program for the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris is being refined, more than 5 years after the fire which damaged the cathedral on April 15, 2019. “Our thirst is great to welcome the whole world back under the vaults of the cathedral”declared Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich on Wednesday, November 13, during a press conference in Paris. “It is now time to find Notre-Dame”completed the rector of the cathedral Olivier Ribadeau Dumas.
November 29: Emmanuel Macron makes a final visit to the restoration site
Head of State Emmanuel Macron must make a final visit to the restoration site, completed as promised in five years. He must give a speech inside the cathedral, to thank in particular all those who contributed to it, the Elysée said on Wednesday.
He must go into the frame and “will stroll through the rebuilt cathedral, the splendor of which will be revealed in its entirety on this occasion”offering “an unprecedented image (…) unknown until now, in living memory”a presidential adviser told the press.
December 7: reopening ceremony
On December 7, President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech on the square, just before attending the liturgical reopening ceremony in the cathedral.
The Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich declared at the end of October that the head of state would speak “in the cathedral” during the ceremony on December 7, at the end of which, around 9 p.m., Notre-Dame will be considered reopened.
But the Elysée assured Wednesday that it had finally been decided that it would pronounce “a fairly short speech” instead “on the square”during a “secular time” before the liturgy. The authorities have “ensured that the principle of separation” between Church and State “be respected”it was argued, sweeping away the “beginnings of controversy” which had arisen when speaking out inside had been mentioned.
Foreign heads of state and government are invited to the December 7 ceremony, the presidency said, without providing a list. The presidency has not commented on the announced absence of Pope Francis, although invited by Emmanuel Macron.
December 8: first mass in public
The first public mass since the 2019 fire will take place the day after the cathedral reopens.
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Mr Macron will be present. “The President of the Republic, whether personally or as President of the Republic, is not prohibited from attending religious services” but he “never communicate”explained an Elysée advisor to Agence France-Presse.
The inaugural mass and consecration of the altar “will take place (…) at 10:30 a.m., chaired by the Archbishop of Paris”said Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, specifying that“At this mass, more than 150 bishops from France and the world, priests and faithful representing the parishes of the diocese of Paris will be present”.
From December 8 to 14: open to the public until 10 p.m.
From Sunday December 8 to Saturday December 14, Notre-Dame will reopen, with one entrance “until 10 p.m.”, announced Wednesday the rector of the cathedral, Mgr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas.
A free ticketing system will allow individuals to reserve entry “the day before, the day before or the same day” of the visit, said Sybille Bellamy-Brown, head of public management at the cathedral, on Wednesday during a press conference in Paris.
“On December 16, ordinary life will resume,” clarified Mgr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas. According to Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, 15 million visitors are expected to visit the cathedral each year.
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