Notre-Dame de Paris, which reopened on Saturday, held its first mass on Sunday morning since the devastating fire in April 2019.
This inaugural mass took place in the presence of the President and gathered 150 bishops along with priests from all 106 Parisian parishes, with attendance by invitation only.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Ulrich of Paris blessed water and sprinkled it on the congregation, the altar, and the pulpit, symbolising purification for their sacred use.
At the beginning of the mass, Archbishop Ulrich greeted the faithful “with intense emotion,” whether they were present in the cathedral or watching on screens.
An architectural rendering of how the restored Notre-Dame site will look. Credit: Bureau Bas Smets
For this first mass since the fire, the public, attending by invitation, arrived more than an hour in advance, eager to watch the ceremony on large screens outside, occasionally making the sign of the cross.
Inside, everyone found a small blue booklet on the minimalist chairs, featuring an image of the Virgin Mary and summarising the liturgy for the inaugural week.
The mass started with a procession of banners from the 106 parishes of the Paris diocese, accompanied by the Notre Dame choir and the sound of the cathedral’s grand organ. At 18:30, the first mass open to the general public will take place, although prior registration via an app is required.
