The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, five years after a devastating fire, has drawn a message of hope and gratitude from Pope Francis.
His remarks were read during the reopening ceremony on December 7 by the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore.
Pope Francis described the restored Notre Dame as “a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France,” calling on the faithful to take pride in their heritage. “Dear faithful of Paris and France, this house, which our Heavenly Father inhabits, is yours: you are its living stones,” he said.
The Pope also praised the workers and artisans who dedicated themselves to the cathedral’s restoration. “Many of them have testified that this adventure was an authentic spiritual path,” he wrote, highlighting their connection to the faith of their forebears.
The fire that struck the iconic Gothic cathedral on April 15, 2019, destroyed its roof and spire, prompting an international restoration effort. The reopening marks the culmination of five years of work supported by public authorities and widespread generosity.
The inaugural Mass on December 8, led by Archbishop Ulrich of Paris, featured the consecration of a new altar containing relics of saints significant to the city. Pope Francis’ message, shared the previous evening, underscored the cathedral’s symbolic and sacred value: “May they, lifting their eyes to these vaults that have regained their light, share His invincible hope.”
The reopening ceremony was attended by many Catholic clergy, religious, and laypeople, while hundreds gathered outside in the rain.
Notre Dame is expected to welcome millions of visitors annually, with Pope Francis advocating free access to the public: “I know … that the doors will be wide open for them, and that you will welcome them … freely,” he said.
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