Notre-Dame holds first mass since Paris cathedral reopened after 2019 fire | World News

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Clergy members and singers of the choir of the Maitrise de Notre-Dame sit in the nave during an inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the high altar, at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral's reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)
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Notre-Dame Cathedral has held its first mass since it reopened following the disastrous fire of 2019.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, attended the liturgy at the Paris landmark, along with clergy, dignitaries, and guests.

Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part, as well as one priest from each of the parishes in the Paris diocese and one priest from each of the seven Eastern-rite Catholic churches, accompanied by worshippers from these communities.

Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich gives the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)
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Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich gave the inaugural mass. Pic: AP

Clergy members attend the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
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Clergy at the mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. Pic: AP

Singers perform during the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
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Singers perform during the mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Pic: AP

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron attend the inaugural Mass to mark the Cathedral's reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)
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French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. Pic: AP

A view of stained glass windows during an inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the high altar, at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral's reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)
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The limestone walls have been cleaned and stained-glass windows restored. Pic: AP

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, center, leads the Eucharist surrounded by clergy members after the consecration of the altar during the inaugural Mass to mark the Cathedral's reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)
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Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, centre, leads the Eucharist. Pic: AP

It has taken more than five years of intricate reconstruction work, funded by £800m in donations from around the world, to restore the grandeur of the celebrated Catholic cathedral, which was built between the 12th and 14th centuries.

The limestone walls of the Gothic masterpiece now gleam after being cleaned of centuries of grime and the restored stained-glass windows project dazzling patterns of colour across the nave.

Notre-Dame’s rector, the Rev Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, said no one alive “has seen the cathedral like this. It is more than restored – it is reborn”.

Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, presided over the mass, including consecrating a new bronze altar.

The service was closed to the general public, but thousands of people watched from viewing areas along the nearby River Seine.

Nathalie Martino, visiting family in the city, said she “cried so much that day,” when much of the building was destroyed by fire five years ago, and “had to come. It was something I needed to do”.

A lucky few of the faithful who secured reservations last week will see the restored interior for themselves later on Sunday at an evening mass.

Read more:
Inside Notre-Dame cathedral – five years on
Parisians celebrate as city’s soul restored
Donald Trump meets Prince William in Paris

Archbishop Ulrich symbolically reopened the cathedral’s massive wooden doors by striking them three times with a crosier crafted from charred beams salvaged from the fire during Saturday’s ceremonial reopening.

As the doors swung open, choirs filled the cathedral with song and the cathedral’s great organ – silent since the fire – resounded with majestic melodies.

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