Notre-Dame Cathedral Reopens After 5 Years... 'These People' Applauded by Trump

Invitation of 160 Firefighters Who Extinguished Fire 5 Years Ago
Marching in Red Uniforms
Macron, Trump, Musk Attend Reopening Ceremony

On the 7th (local time), special guests were invited to the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which reopened after healing the scars of the fire five years ago. They were 160 firefighters.

On that day, British daily The Guardian and the US New York Times (NYT) reported that the firefighters who fought the flames during the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire five years ago marched through the rebuilt cathedral, and about 1,500 attendees, including French President Emmanuel Macron and then President-elect Donald Trump, gave them a warm round of applause.

As the firefighters dressed in red uniforms appeared and marched, the word "Merci" (Thank you) shone on the cathedral’s outer wall. The Guardian described this scene as the highlight of the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony that day.

On the 7th (local time), at the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral held in Paris, France, President Emmanuel Macron and President-elect Donald Trump applauded the firefighters who were marching. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The Notre-Dame Cathedral fire occurred on April 15, 2019, five years and eight months ago. When the first fire alarm sounded, the cathedral security guard was unaware of the fire, and it was only after the second fire alarm sounded 30 minutes later that the fire was belatedly recognized. The Paris Fire Brigade arrived at the scene within 10 minutes, and when they reached the attic of the burning roof, the flames had already engulfed the entire wooden roof structure. After retreating from the attic, the firefighters moved through the darkness, piercing the black smoke, and despite the perilous situation of molten lead falling as the spire collapsed, they struggled to save the relics inside the cathedral.

One firefighter recalled to the NYT, "There was a loud explosion like a giant bulldozer dropping dozens of stones into a trash bin," recalling the situation at the time. The firefighters risked their lives fighting the fire, and fortunately, there were no casualties.

Jean-Claude Gallet, then chief of the Paris Fire Brigade, said, "We fought the flames all night in a situation where the cathedral could collapse at any moment." In an interview with The Washington Post (WP) ahead of the cathedral’s reopening, he said, "The firefighters were well-trained, trusted each other, and willingly risked their lives," adding, "We quickly realized that losing the cathedral would be unimaginable both historically and religiously."

On the 7th (local time) at 7 p.m., the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral is being held in Paris, France. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony was held at 7 p.m. on the 7th. In addition to the firefighters, the ceremony was attended by cathedral restoration workers, Catholic figures, and distinguished guests from around the world. Key attendees included Donald Trump, the US President-elect on his first overseas trip after election; Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Jill Biden, wife of US President Joe Biden; Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine; Prince William of the United Kingdom; Andrzej Duda, President of Poland; and Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy.

Despite bad weather, about 4,000 citizens watched the ceremony on large outdoor screens installed around the cathedral. The cathedral’s opening mass will be held on the morning of the 8th along with the dedication of the main altar. More than 170 bishops from around the world, priests representing parishes of the Paris diocese, invited faithful, and President Macron will attend this mass. The first public mass open to the general public is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the same day.