A few weeks before the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, the Minister of Culture suggests making entry fees of 5 euros. An idea that is not unanimous. The diocese notably recalled the principle of free entry into churches and cathedrals, defended by the Catholic Church in France.
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The idea comes from the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. If it is retained and applied, this would, according to her, allow the collection of 75 million euros per year. Which could be used for the maintenance and restoration of all places of worship which are expensive for the State and the municipalities. This is in any case the position of the heritage foundation, which collects funds for the restoration of endangered heritage, which welcomed the proposal of the Minister of Culture which opens “ a debate on available financing methods », insisting that “ all possible financial resources, including innovative ones, are mobilized to come to the aid of this heritage in danger », even if the case of France is specific.
Indeed, for this proposal to be applicable, it would first be necessary to change the 1905 law on the separation of Churches and State and governing places of worship. In addition to this legislative aspect, the entire organization of access to the cathedral should also be reviewed, namely setting up two separate entrances: one for the faithful who come to pray and another for those who just come to visit the monument. Procedures which may take time before they are put in place, leading the Minister of Culture to say that paid entry to Notre-Dame de Paris would not be effective before 2026.
Before the fire, only the towers of Notre-Dame and the archaeological crypt were subject to payment in the same way as the necropolis of the kings of France at the Basilica of Saint-Denis, according to the Center for National Monuments.
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Pilgrims and visitors welcomed until then in the same way
In response to this proposal, the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrichwished to recall the unchanged position of the Catholic Church in France regarding free entry into churches and cathedrals: “ Free access to cathedrals and churches finds its justification, both in the provisions of the 1905 law of separation of Churches and State and in the fundamental mission of churches: to welcome unconditionally and therefore necessarily free of charge. every man and woman, regardless of their religion or belief, their opinions and their financial means “.
On France Inter, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, said he was in favor of charging for entry to Notre-Dame de Paris, taking the example of Spain where he “ visited the Sagrada Familia, (where) we pay “. A common practice also in Italy, notably at the Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
The reconstruction project of Notre-Dame de Paris was entirely financed by donations which poured in the day after the fire on April 15, 2019. They reached 846 million euros, paid by some 340,000 donors from 150 countries. . Donors that the diocese of Paris does not forget, which does not close the door to reflection to distinguish them.
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most visited buildings in Europe with “14 to 15 million” people expected by the diocese after the reopening scheduled for December 7.
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