Cathedral Notre Dame to resume operations following extensive inferno
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen on December 7, 2024, following a massive restoration effort that cost 700 million euros. The reopening ceremony will be attended by multiple heads of state, including the incoming US President, Donald Trump, who has been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump's attendance marks his first foreign trip since winning the presidential election in early November. CNN reports that he will be present at the reopening, and Trump himself wrote on Truth Social that it was an "honor" to be invited.
However, one notable absence from the list of attendees is Pope Francis. It is assumed that he does not wish to attend due to a perceived political undertone. The Holy Father's possible absence from the reopening is not unprecedented, as he declined an invitation to the inauguration of President Joe Biden earlier this year.
In addition to Trump, around 50 other heads of state are expected to attend the reopening. Among them is German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. French President Macron was allowed to visit the interior of the cathedral a few days before the official reopening.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also been invited to the reopening, although it is not confirmed if he will attend. Online reservations have been introduced for visits to Notre-Dame Cathedral, yet visits remain free of charge.
The restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral has been a significant project, with much of the original structure saved thanks to the efforts of firefighters and restorers. The cathedral will now reopen its doors to the public, offering a chance to witness the beauty of this historic landmark once more.
The reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in December 2024, amidst general-news and politics, will see the attendance of around 50 heads of state, including the incoming US President, Donald Trump, who finds it an honor to be invited. Despite this, Pope Francis, due to a perceived political undertone, remains absent from the list of attendees, having previously declined an invitation to the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
