The choir, clergy and guests stand as they sing during a ceremony to mark the reopening of the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral, in central Paris, on Saturday.
The bells of Notre Dame Cathedral rang on Saturday evening in Paris for the first time since a fire devastated the Paris landmark in 2019.
Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich began the ceremony by knocking three times on the cathedral’s door with his staff, called a crozier, which was made from one of the burned beams of the cathedral’s roof.
The ceremony to mark the cathedral’s return to religious services was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and hundreds of dignitaries, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, first lady Jill Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the U.K.’s Prince William.
The cathedral’s restoration and return to service after five years has been a success for Macron, who has had recent political difficulties.
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Firefighters, rescuers and builders involved in the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral parade during a ceremony to mark the reopening of the landmark cathedral, in central Paris, on Saturday. Ludovic Marin / AFP via Getty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron, right, talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Notre Dame Cathedral as France’s iconic cathedral is formally reopening its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the landmark in 2019. Ludovic Marin / APSpectators gather outside France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday in Paris for its formal reopening. Alessandra Tarantino / APPart of bas-relief outside of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on Nov. 29. Stephane de Sakutin / AFP via Getty ImagesThe tabernacle designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet is pictured in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29. Stephane de Sakutin / AFP via Getty ImagesMayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo (left), French President Emmanuel Macron (second from left) and his wife Brigitte Macron (third from left) stand as the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich (center), walks to the doors of Notre Dame Cathedral during a ceremony to mark the reopening on Saturday. Christophe Petit Tesson / AFP/Getty ImagesCustomers sit inside a restaurant next to France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, hours before formally reopening its doors on Saturday. Bernat Armangue / APThis photograph shows the inside of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29. Stephane de Sakutin / AFP via Getty ImagesSpectators gather outside France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday in Paris for its formal reopening. Louise Delmotte / APPedestrians pass by the security barriers and fences placed around the Notre Dame Cathedral on the eve ahead of its official reopening, on Friday. Julien de Rosa / AFP/Getty ImagesThis combination of pictures shows the Western Rose window of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29, 2024 (left) and on Nov. 30, 2012 (right). Stephane de Sakutin and Patrick Kovarik / AFP/Getty ImagesThis combination of pictures shows the nave of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29, 2024 (top) and on June 28, 2017 (bottom). Sarah Meyssonnier and Martin Bureau / AFP/Getty ImagesThis combination of pictures shows rubble and the cross at the altar inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris a month after it sustained major fire, on May 15, 2019 (top), and the tabernacle designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet on Nov. 29, 2024. Philippe Lopez and Stephane de Sakutin / AFP/Getty ImagesThe nave of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29, 2024 (right) and on June 28, 2017 (left). Martin Bureau and Sarah Meyssonnier / AFP/Getty ImagesThe choir stalls of Notre Dame on June 26, 2018 (top) and on Nov. 29, 2024 (bottom). Ludovic Marin and Stephane de Sakutin / AFP/Getty ImagesThe choir stalls of Notre Dame are shown on Nov. 29. Stephane de Sakutin / AFP/Getty ImagesThis photograph shows the Crown of Thorns inside the reliquary of the Crown of Thorns, designed by French Artist Sylvain Dubuisson, on Nov. 29. Stephane de Sakutin / AFP/Getty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a visit to Notre Dame on Nov. 29. Sarah Meyssonnier / AFP/Getty ImagesPeople watch the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. Nicolas Liponne / NurPhoto via Getty Images
James Doubek is an editor and reporter for NPR's general assignment News Hub. He edits everything from quick breaking news stories and live blogs to complex features for NPR.org.
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For three years he was an overnight digital producer, single-handedly manning NPR's entire online presence during big news events such as former President Donald Trump's unprecedented walk into North Korean territory. He's also had stints as a reporter for NPR's Business Desk and as a radio producer with Weekend Edition.
Doubek got his start at NPR as an intern at the Washington Desk, where he made frequent trips to the Supreme Court and reported on political campaigns.
