French President Emmanuel Macron will play a central role in the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on 7 December – five years after a fire devastated the iconic landmark. In line with France’s church-state separation, Macron will deliver a speech from the forecourt.
Macron, who made a five-year restoration pledge shortly after the 2019 blaze, will also attend the first public mass in the newly restored cathedral the following day.
In preparation for the reopening, the head of state will make a final visit to the construction site on 29 November, his seventh tour since the fire, to personally thank the artisans who have worked on the extensive project.
His remarks will highlight what the Élysée Palace has described as a “French success story”, placing the Notre-Dame restoration alongside other national achievements like the Paris Olympics.
France mulls charging tourists to enter Notre-Dame cathedral
Speech delivered outside
Initially, the president’s address was planned for inside the cathedral. However, the decision to have him speak outside respects France’s strict secular laws separating church and state, said an Élysée spokesperson.
Macron would take the opportunity to underscore “France’s resilience” in restoring a symbol of French heritage, the spokesperson added.
“Macron is keen to focus on this success and to thank all those involved in what has been a monumental effort,” a close aide told daily paper Le Parisien, explaining that his speech would praise the “nation of builders”.
On 8 December, Macron will join worshippers at the first mass in Notre-Dame since the fire. Led by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, the mass will consecrate the cathedral’s altar and interior.
Macron will attend the service but, as is customary in his capacity as president, he will not take communion. “The president never receives communion when he attends a mass in an official role,” his team said.
Five-year promise
To honour Macron’s pledge to restore the cathedral within five years, the government implemented special policies to facilitate the process.
New laws encouraged private donations for national heritage projects, resulting in major contributions from donors, including the Pinault family.
However, the campaign was not without controversy, with some critics arguing that wealthy donors held excessive influence.
The restoration project also faced health concerns, with worries about lead contamination in nearby areas. These were addressed with new safety protocols, but debates continued over whether the cathedral’s spire should be rebuilt in its original style or with a modern design.
Five years after devastating fire, race to rebuild Notre-Dame gains pace
In the end, authorities chose to recreate the spire exactly as it was, based on detailed historical records.
The Élysée confirmed that Pope Francis would not attend the ceremony, as he is scheduled to visit Corsica the following week. However, guests from various countries are expected.
“This event will be broadcast worldwide,” an Élysée official said.
In its first week open, Notre-Dame will welcome the public until 10pm, allowing visitors to witness the newly restored interior. Access will be ticketed but free, with reservations available from one to three days in advance.
Though some finishing touches remain, the primary reconstruction work is complete. Around €140 million of the restoration fund remains, and the government has yet to decide whether additional budget cuts might impact the final stages.
