Notre Dame Cathedral, its air thick with the smell of incense, hosted its first mass on Sunday since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcended religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience.
For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city’s spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage’s most famous landmarks after a five-year restoration.
The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar. The liturgy was attended by 2,500 people, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part, along with one priest from each of the 113 parishes in the Paris diocese, accompanied by worshippers from these communities.
The cathedral will open fully to visitors on December 16, 2024 via an online reservation system.
TOPSHOT – People arrive to attend a second mass, open to the public, at the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on the day of its re-opening, in Paris on December 8, 2024. Newly restored Notre Dame cathedral held its first mass in the morning, with Christians celebrating the return of the French capital’s most famous place of worship after a historic re-opening ceremony. 2,500 people who secured free tickets this week are expected to attend the mass. The cathedral will open fully to visitors on December 16, 2024 via an online reservation system. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Front row from right, French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, attend the inaugural Mass at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP) People watch the broadcast of the inaugural mass on a giant screen outside France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Guest watch clergy members leaving the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) A view of stained glass windows during an inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the high altar, at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP) Archbishop Laurent Ulrich spreads holy oil on the altar during an inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the high altar, at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP) The choir of the Maitrise de Notre-Dame sing next to priests and clergy, left, during an inaugural Mass, with the consecration of the high altar, at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, as part of ceremonies to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP) Faithfuls attend the first public mass in Notre Dame Cathedral since the 2019 fire, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) The ‘Statue de la Vierge de Pitie’ (Pieta) is seen during the first public mass in Notre Dame Cathedral since the 2019 fire, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Thierry Escaich plays the organ during the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP) A view of a detail of the ceiling during the inaugural Mass to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP) Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich leads prayers to consecrate the new main alter during the first Mass in the restored Cathedral on Dec. 08, 2024 in Paris, France. Presided over by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, the Mass gathers nearly 170 bishops from around the world, Parisian priests, heads of state, and faithful attendees to celebrate. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Notre-Dame de Paris) People leave after the first public mass in Notre Dame Cathedral since the 2019 fire, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Clergy members attend the inaugural mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, hosting its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019,, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) Archbishop Laurent Ulrich leads the Eucharist surrounded by clergy members after the consecration of the altar during the inaugural Mass to mark the Cathedral’s reopening after its restoration, in Paris, France, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool Photo via AP)
