After the Olympic Gamesit is an event which once again places France at the center of global attention. Devastated by a fire in 2019, Notre-Dame de Paris, a masterpiece of Gothic art, reopens its doors this Saturday, December 7. A highly anticipated day after more than five years of a colossal restoration project, financed by an unprecedented influx of donations.
And who says global event, says distinguished guests. Thus, around forty heads of state and government, as well as several crowned heads, are expected at the festivities on Saturday and Sunday. Starting with the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, who arrived shortly before 7 a.m. this Saturday by private plane – since he cannot yet benefit from American presidential air travel. For his first trip abroad since his election on November 5, marking his big return to the international scene, the billionaire will be received at the Elysée in the afternoon by Emmanuel Macron. On his social network Truth Social, he praised the “remarkable work” of the French president, who “ensured that Notre-Dame was restored to all its glory and even more”.
For Emmanuel Macron, in the midst of government turmoil, the invitation addressed to Donald Trump gives an impression of déjà vu: the tenant of the Elysée should try to coax an American president with a reputation for impulsiveness and with whom he has had deep disagreements in the past. However, her beginnings with him had been almost idyllic. He welcomed Donald Trump with great fanfare in Paris after his victory in the 2016 election, with a dinner at the Eiffel Tower and a place as guest of honor for the July 14 parade. A military parade that Donald Trump had declared he wanted to import to Washington. But the relationship had gradually turned sour, as with many other leaders. In 2019, the Republican judged Emmanuel Macron’s critical comments on NATO to be “very, very nasty”, and he indicated his intention to “punish” the French president.
Ursula von der Leyen absent
After Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron will then welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to the Elysée, also present in Paris for the occasion. It is also “possible” that the Ukrainian president will meet Donald Trump, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP. Among the other leaders present: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and even Polish head of state Andrzej Duda. Prince William will also be in Paris “on behalf of the United Kingdom”, and he will also meet with the American president-elect. The current tenant of the White House, Joe Biden, will not make the trip. But he will be represented by his wife, Jill Biden.
On the other hand, no Ursula von der Leyen in Paris: the President of the European Commission decided not to make the trip after having irritated the French authorities by going to Montevideo, in Uruguay, to announce this Friday the conclusion of the Mercosur free trade agreement between the European Union and four South American countries – which France, among other European countries, opposes.
“A cathedral like you’ve never seen it before”
Emmanuel Macron, in difficulty after the censorship of his government, is in any case banking heavily on this meeting elevated to the rank of “French pride”, like the Paris Olympics this summer. The ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m., with the opening of the cathedral doors by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, after striking three blows with a crozier. They will continue indoors, and not outdoors, as initially planned, due to the windy weather.
A speech by the French president, who had set the “insane challenge” of a five-year restoration following the fire, a religious service in the presence of 1,500 guests and the reading of a message from the absent Pope are planned. , “aimed at the French”. This Sunday, two masses are planned, at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The first in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, heads of state and government as well as religious figures, will consecrate the altar. The second is open to the public, upon registration.
Reconstructed identically to that designed by the 19th century architect Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc, the famous jagged point once again soars into the sky, and the cathedral internally radiates a luminosity unknown in living memory. It is “a cathedral like we have never seen” that the first guests will discover, promised on Franceinfo this Saturday Philippe Jost, boss of the restoration site who succeeded General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who died in 2023. He said he was “happy” to “show the whole world” a “great collective success and a source of pride for all of France”.
At the end of the republican and liturgical ceremonies this Saturday, around 8:40 p.m., a dinner will then be offered at the Elysée to heads of state, government and international organizations. With, undoubtedly, discussions which should go beyond the simple restoration of the cathedral.