the global reopening program is becoming clearer

Less than a month before the reopening of the Parisian cathedral, it seems that the political and religious authorities have finally come to an agreement. It will be Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris who will be the first to enter Notre-Dame, on Saturday December 7 in the afternoon. “Secularism requires” explains the entourage of the President of the Republic, the latter will have previously spoken on the square “quite briefly” in front of an audience of heads of state and officials, invited by the Elysée and by the diocese. France Télévision will broadcast all of the ceremonies and is planning a major “outside and inside” show from 9:30 p.m. with a range of international artists.

The archbishop, as the appointee of the place, will symbolically strike the great portal of his cathedral with his crosier, then will “wake up” the organ through eight calls that he will make to it and to which the instrument will respond. A Magnificat and a Te Deum will then be sung with the mastery of the cathedral.

Church and politics have come to an agreement

But… Emmanuel Macron – who made this exceptional and unforeseen project a presidential project by ordering it to be completed in five years – will have already spoken in the cathedral, next November 29 in the morninga speech that is announced as “emotional and sincere”. For his seventh and final site visit, the Head of State would like to thank the 2,000 people who worked on the restoration and who will all be invited. A commemorative diploma will be given to each. The President will stroll through the resplendent building and visit the new framework.

Finally, he will attend, without speaking, Sunday December 8 at 10:30 a.m.at the inaugural mass where the archbishop and the rector of the cathedral Mgr Ribadeau Dumas, in the presence of all the clergy of Notre-Dame, will consecrate the new altar. After sprinkling the audience, the altar and the ambo with holy water, five relics of saints linked to the history of Paris will be introduced into the “sepulcher”, that is to say a cavity provided for this purpose in the altar. A blessing will be pronounced as chrism (holy oil) is poured on top of the altar, before an offering of incense. The altar adornment and lights will then be brought.

“I have this ardent desire that these days of communion between the actors of the construction site continue as we find our common home” confided Mgr Laurent Ulrich. The archbishop insisted on the attention paid to the faithful of the 106 Parisian parishes who will each be represented by two delegates during the reopening celebrations. The diocese is working with several Catholic associations to also open these ceremonies to the most vulnerable who are also invited to a “fraternal buffet” after the mass on December 8.

As for the general public, they will begin to be welcomed on the evening of December 8, with the cathedral exceptionally only closing at 10 p.m. Groups of pilgrims will be welcomed from February 1, 2025 but groups of tourists will have to wait until June 9, i.e. after the feast of Pentecost and the end of the six months of praise decreed to celebrate the reopening.

A reservation application will be set up on the cathedral website from the end of November but you can only reserve one or two days in advance and places will always be left available for the same day. This reservation for entry, which remains free, is not obligatory and a queue will be provided for those who arrive without it. Adjustments will perhaps be necessary as feedback becomes available… whereas during the year 2025, the cathedral, which can only hold 2,500 people at a time, will undoubtedly have to welcome 15 million visitors from around the world. whole to contemplate its rediscovered splendor.