PHOTO: Donald Trump and Prince William shake hands at Notre Dame cathedral
Archbishop welcomes Marcron and Paris mayor
The Archbishop entered Notre Dame, followed by President Macron, First Lady Brigitte Macron, and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. He shook hands with each of them as they entered the cathedral.
They were led to the front of the church by the Rector of Notre Dame, Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas.
Symbolic knock at Notre Dame
The Archbishop knocked three times on the cathedral door with his staff, each knock followed by a response from the choir. This ritual symbolized the opening of Notre Dame for its grand reopening.
Religious procession at Notre Dame
The religious procession began with priests from each Paris parish carrying banners featuring their logos, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. The clergy wore liturgical capes designed by French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. The white medieval cloaks, adorned with primary shards of color, symbolized brilliance and spirituality reaching out to the people.
The ceremony begins
Members of the public to the near he cathedral started cheering when the Notre Dame bells rang.
Notre Dame bells ring for the first time since fire
The bells of Notre Dame are ringing for the first time since the fire. While the eight bells were not damaged, they required cleaning and tuning. The bells now call people to church once again.
PHOTO: French politicians and guests sit inside Notre Dame ahead of a ceremony
Yanis Depocko came out to watch the reopening service alone
Yanis Depocko came out to watch the reopening service alone.
“My friends don’t care, so I’m alone,” the 20-year-old social media influencer laughed.
Still, Depocko said he felt it was important to be here tonight.
“I like the story,” he said of the cathedral. “It’s a beautiful symbol of Paris.”
Depocko said he was also excited to see some of guests in attendance at the event, particularly Trump.
“He’s not afraid to speak controversially and he’s a charismatic man,” he said. “I like Trump.”
Trump's arrival at Notre Dame
Trump arrived at Notre Dame, greeted by a handshake from Macron and a kiss for Brigitte Macron. Covered by an umbrella, he walked across the square towards the cathedral entrance, waving to the crowd. French media reported that approximately 20 security guards surrounded him.
Extra seats added for Notre Dame ceremony
To accommodate the large number of guests for tonight’s reopening ceremony, Notre Dame has added 200 extra seats to its usual 1,500, ensuring more space for attendees.