Pope Francis has officially confirmed that he will not attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, scheduled for December 8.
“I will not go to Paris,” the Pope stated during an in-flight press conference on September 13.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously invited the Pope to the much-anticipated event. When asked by a French journalist about his potential presence at the cathedral’s reopening, Pope Francis firmly declined, saying, “I will not go to Paris,” without providing further explanation.
Notre Dame Cathedral has been under restoration since a massive fire on April 15, 2019, destroyed its iconic spire and timber roof. Initial investigations pointed to a possible electrical malfunction.
While he will not be attending the reopening, Pope Francis expressed interest in future travels.
“I would like to visit China,” he said, calling it “a great country.” He also mentioned the possibility of visiting Argentina, saying, “It is still not decided because there are a number of things to resolve first.”
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