(DailyEmailNews.com) – Years after it was partially destroyed in a devastating fire, Catholics are ecstatic about Notre Dame Cathedral’s upcoming reopening.
The cathedral’s restoration has cost nearly $60 million and blends medieval craftsmanship with modern safety measures.
Now, the iconic symbol of Christian heritage and French culture is preparing to welcome visitors once again.
The reopening has been scheduled for December 7 and 8, 2024, and marks a triumphant return for one of the world’s most beloved Christian monuments.
The fire on April 15, 2019, caused extensive damage, collapsing the roof and destroying the interior, including the central spire.
The restoration effort has been nothing short of miraculous: hundreds of specialist artisans and nearly 2,000 workers rebuilt the cathedral using traditional techniques.
Michel Picaud, a key figure in the restoration process, emphasized the extent of the task: “The fire was a terrible event for us because suddenly we had not only to restore part of the cathedral but to rebuild it, which means the extent of what we had to do was much bigger.”
We were very hopeful that we would succeed in rebuilding this considerably. We have about 50,000 donors in the U.S., which makes the U.S. and the American people, I would say, the best friends of Notre Dame with the French people,” Picaud added.
The reopening ceremonies will be broadcast across the globe, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to give a speech.
However, it has been confirmed that Pope Francis will not attend the event, sparking concerns about the priorities of Church leadership in supporting such significant Christian landmarks.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris expressed, “We are going to recover the focal point of our life as a church.”
The restoration has improved the cathedral’s beauty: cleaned limestone and improved lighting promise to showcase the glory of Christian architecture to a new generation.
However, the introduction of a new online ticketing system and the possibility of admission fees raise concerns about whether the cathedral will remain widely accessible.
As it stands, Notre Dame Cathedral is preparing to welcome an estimated 14 to 15 million visitors every year.
Copyright 2024, DailyEmailNews.com
