Pope Francis skips Notre Dame opening, brushing off Macron
Pope Francis will not participate in the opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The head of the Church believes that his presence could divert attention from the ceremony's purpose.
7:52 AM EST, November 26, 2024
Pope Francis has decided not to attend the opening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, feeling that his presence might detract from the event’s main goal.
Emmanuel Macron tried several times to persuade the Pope to change his decision but without success.
The French station BFM TV reports that the Pope was irritated by the President of France's insistence. Macron, meanwhile, was frustrated by the Pope’s refusals. The Pope emphasized that his visit might distract the faithful from the ceremonies related to the cathedral's reopening after its five-year reconstruction.
Paris has been waiting for this for five years. Soon, the opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral
The opening is planned for December 8. The cathedral will be open until 10 PM on the 14th of the month. Archbishop Ulrich expressed hope that the cathedral will again become a "15 million visitors" meeting place annually.
On November 29, Macron will visit the construction site to thank everyone involved in the reconstruction. Then, on December 7, a service will be held during which the state will symbolically hand over the rebuilt cathedral to the Church. Representatives of countries that financially supported the reconstruction will participate in the ceremony, although not all represent Christian cultures.
