PARIS (AP) 鈥� Howling winds couldn鈥檛 stop 鈥檚 heart from beating again.
With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches.
The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the 脦le de la Cit茅, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral鈥檚 mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies.
The restoration, a for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President who championed the ambitious timeline 鈥� and .
The evening鈥檚 celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain鈥檚 Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame鈥檚 enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France鈥檚 ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises.
Dramatic three knocks and bell Emmanuel
As the cathedral鈥檚 largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel 鈥� which was not named after the French leader 鈥� tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment.
Outside the cathedral鈥檚 monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. 鈥淏rothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,鈥� he declared. 鈥淚t is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.鈥�
With the congregation of over 2,500 people watching in silence, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone.
Adding to the ceremony鈥檚 visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches.
Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it.
Macron鈥檚 political woes
Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed 鈥済ratitude鈥� Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave.
鈥淚 stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,鈥� he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years.
鈥淭onight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,鈥� sending the 鈥渕usic of hope鈥� cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said.
The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, , plunging the nation鈥檚 politics into more turmoil.
Macron has called Notre Dame鈥檚 reopening 鈥渁 jolt of hope.鈥� Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France鈥檚 unity and resilience under his leadership 鈥� a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis.
Monumental feats of restoration
Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework鈥攅quivalent to six soccer pitches鈥攇leamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed 鈥渢he forest,鈥� restored the cathedral鈥檚 iconic spire and roof.
The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes鈥攔anging from pen-sized to torso-wide鈥攁nd a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich鈥檚 command: 鈥淲ake up, organ, sacred instrument.鈥�
The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop鈥檚 invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound.
Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a sense of perfection,鈥� said Fran莽ois Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. 鈥淚t was somber then. Now, it鈥檚 night and day.鈥�
The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 recognize it,鈥� he said. 鈥淕od is very powerful; He can change things.鈥� He expressed hope that the cathedral鈥檚 revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine鈥檚 president. 鈥淚 think that will have a big impact,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.鈥�
The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with and the Middle East.
For Catholics, Notre Dame鈥檚 rector said the cathedral 鈥渃arries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.鈥�
鈥淚t is a magnificent symbol of unity,鈥� Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. 鈥淣otre Dame is not just a French monument 鈥� it is a magnificent sign of hope.鈥�
The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral鈥檚 significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.
Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral鈥檚 ability to inspire. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,鈥� Alexandria said. 鈥淣ot many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.鈥�
Historical details enrich the occasion
Guests entered through Notre Dame鈥檚 iconic western fa莽ade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history.
Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more 鈥� a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide.
Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word 鈥淢ERCI鈥� 鈥� thank you 鈥� was projected against the cathedral鈥檚 iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno 鈥� the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof.
But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie.
Security is tight for this global event
Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
The 脦le de la Cit茅 鈥� the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris鈥� is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump.
Public viewing areas along the Seine鈥檚 southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens.
For many, Notre Dame鈥檚 rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one 鈥� after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.
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Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP鈥檚 collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Thomas Adamson And John Leicester, The Associated Press
