French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to all those who had saved, helped, and rebuilt the Notre-Dame Cathedral after a devastating fire in 2019. World leaders gathered in Paris for the reopening of the UNESCO World Heritage site, five years after the fire. The ceremony was attended by heads of state like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump.
The fire had brought the 12th-century gothic cathedral close to collapse, but nearly $1bn in donations from around the world helped with reconstruction efforts. The cathedral has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting. French firefighters who fought the fire received a standing ovation during the reopening ceremony.
The reopening of Notre-Dame also came at a time when Macron was facing a political crisis at home, as parliament had pushed out his prime minister earlier in the week. Macron used the ceremony as an opportunity for diplomacy, meeting with Zelenskyy and Trump at the Elysee before the ceremony. Observers raised concerns about Trump cutting off US support for Ukraine after his inauguration in January, but Zelenskyy described the meeting as “good and productive” and expressed hope for a just peace.
The ceremony marked a moment of unity and gratitude, as Macron used the reopening of Notre-Dame to bring together world leaders and divert attention from his domestic political challenges. The cathedral’s restoration symbolizes resilience and the ability to rebuild after tragedy, with the support of people from around the world.
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