It will be a star-studded inauguration for the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris today Saturday. From 6 p.m., a ceremony will be held that will be visited by, among others, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).
Among the 1,500 other guests expected are US President-elect Donald Trump and current First Lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
One who will not attend is Pope Francis who is going to Corsica instead.
First mass on Sunday
The first Mass will be held on Sunday at 10.30am. Then 170 bishops and over 100 of Paris’ priests attend. Later in the evening, another fair is held which is open to the public. 2,500 tickets were released and quickly sold out, according to French media.
Large parts of Paris are blocked off during the weekend. Only those involved in the ceremony and residents will be allowed to pass. Shops in the area are closed and guided tours for tourists have to take a different route.
Around the cathedral, there will be room for 40,000 people who can follow the ceremonies on screens.
Supervisor passed away
The work on the renovation has kept both the schedule and the budget. The five-star general Jean-Louis Georgelin, whom President Macron gave the job of leading the restoration, unfortunately does not get to see the results of his work. He passed away in 2023 in a hiking accident. Georgelin’s name is now engraved in the cathedral’s new spire.