Five years after the fire which ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in April 2019, the timetable for reopening the site was clarified on Wednesday, November 13, during a press conference. A sequence in three stages: first, a final presidential visit to the restoration site, on November 29, to greet all those who participated in the reconstruction; then, a ceremony symbolizing the handing over of the religious building by the State to the Church, during which Emmanuel Macron will speak. Finally, a first public mass to consecrate the altar and the interior of the cathedral will take place on Sunday December 8.
A final site visit on November 29
Emmanuel Macron will go to the cathedral for a final site visit. Like what he was able to do during his previous visits to the site, the President of the Republic will speak from the cathedral – not yet worshiped, so as not to contravene, according to the Elysée, the principle of secularism and separation of Churches and State. “The cathedral will not be open [au public]there is no ambiguity regarding this statement.”
This visit will be an opportunity to honor all those who have worked on the reconstruction of the cathedral over the last five years: the Companions of Duty will all be invited (but all will probably not come, some living far from Paris or being engaged on other construction sites). “The goal is to bring together as many as possible”assures the Elysée. Another tribute to those who made the reconstruction possible: a list of their names will be inscribed in the arrow, starting with that of General Georgelin, who presided over the reconstruction until his death in August 2023.
A presidential speech on the square on December 7
This will be the political highlight of the sequence. Emmanuel Macron will chair the ceremony of handing over the cathedral to the Church of France, Saturday December 7. A new presidential speech is expected in front of the building and not inside, which was confirmed by the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich. “This speech will be addressed to all French people”assures the presidential palace. “It will be a republican and secular time before a religious and then musical time in Notre-Dame.” “And the ceremony will be broadcast around the world”. Indeed, many heads of state are expected, particularly from donor countries – “not necessarily all of Christian culture”slides the Elysée. It is still unknown whether they will also be received at the Elysée, following the model of what happened before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in July. Pope Francis is not expected to be present, but will favor a visit to Corsica a week later, on December 15.
The first mass on December 8
The first mass in the rebuilt cathedral will take place on Sunday December 8, presided over by Mgr Ulrich, in the presence of the head of state. “The President of the Republic, whether personally or as head of state, is not prohibited from attending religious services” but he “never take communion”justifies one of his advisors. Then, masses and religious ceremonies will be able to resume in the building. Notre-Dame will then reopen to the public and will even be accessible “until 10 p.m.” the first week of its reopening, from December 8 to 14, also specified the rector of the cathedral, 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.
However, the work is not completely finished. It’s more about finishing touches than structural work, but that doesn’t prevent it. According to the Elysée, there are still 140 million euros remaining in the planned envelope, but the tense budgetary situation could lead to a reduction in scope. “This will be determined as part of the preparation of future budgets.”boots touch the Elysée.
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