Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris hosted its first Christmas mass on Tuesday since it reopened, five and a half years after a catastrophic fire nearly destroyed the historic landmark.
During the celebration, Father Henry de Villefranche said the cathedral served as a symbol of faith, unity and hope.
Additional Christmas services will be held later on Tuesday at 6 and 8 p.m. A traditional midnight mass will also be celebrated, presided over by the Archbishop of Paris.
Reservations are not possible for Christmas services and participants must arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
On the night of April 15, 2019, the roof of the cathedral was engulfed in flames. Most of the structure collapsed, but the towers and facade survived. It is still unclear what exactly caused the fire.
More than 840 million euros were donated from around the world for the restoration work, which lasted five years, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s office.
This content was originally published in Notre-Dame celebrates Christmas mass weeks after reopening in Paris on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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