The solemn reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral put Paris in the center of the Catholic world on the evening of Dec. 7 as the archbishop of France’s capital struck the magnificent door with his pastoral staff, marking the moment of the iconic Catholic church’s rebirth.
Reopening of Notre Dame is victory day for firefighters who saved it from the inferno
As the whole world awaits the reopening of Notre Dame, for those present inside the cathedral for the “grand réouverture,” it will be even more of a special moment.
Notre Dame shines bright as French president visits days before the ‘grande réouverture’
The world was left stunned when the first images of the rebuilt Notre Dame were published and spread with viral speed as President Emmanuel Macron walked through the bright, unrecognizably beautiful Parisian cathedral on Nov. 29, a week ahead of the Dec. 7-8 official reopening.
Former Femen activist apologizes for desecrating Notre Dame in 2013 protest against church, pope
A decade ago, Marguerite Stern entered Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, screaming and topless, to demonstrate her hatred of the church and the pope. In a gesture of repentance, she has now apologized to Catholics for her actions.
Notre Dame de Paris returns to her cathedral with thousands of Parisians walking her home
Miraculously missed by burning beams falling from the roof on April 15, 2019, and waiting for five years to make it back to Notre Dame Cathedral, the 14th-century statue of the Virgin of Paris made it back home Nov. 15, accompanied by thousands of Parisians praying, singing and lighting candles as they walked their Virgin to Paris’ most iconic church, restored after the fire.
Ahead of World Day of the Poor, cause opens for France’s ‘charitable spouses’
Ahead of World Day of the Poor, observed in the church Nov. 17, French bishops gave a green light to open the sainthood cause for a married couple who gave up their noble and rich life to care for the sick and poor.
Our Lady’s statue will be the first one to return to her Notre Dame Cathedral
In what is seen by the church of Paris as a triumphant return, the famous statue of the Virgin of the Pillar will be restored to her place in Notre Dame Cathedral Nov. 15.
France’s culture minister wants visitors’ fee for Notre Dame; church of Paris says no, invites all
The countdown has begun for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral throughout the weekend of Dec. 7-8. As the last pieces of scaffolding are being removed on the outside, Culture Minister Rachida Dati has proposed introducing an entrance fee to visit Notre Dame, which has caused a stir.
French priest proposes ordinariate for TLM Catholics as ‘constructive way’ forward for church
French Dominican Father Louis-Marie de Blignières first proposed the idea of the “traditional ordinariate” in September 2023, but continues to develop it today.
Church leaders speak up after French school supervising body fires principal of Catholic school
The archbishop of Paris spoke out in favor of freedom of Catholic education in France, amid weeks of tensions and protests after the principal of a Catholic school was fired by the state school-supervising body for “breaching secularism.”
France mourns Catholic student murdered by repeat migrant offender next to her university
It felt as if the whole country mourned and wept as family, friends and 3,000 other people packed the St. Louis Cathedral in Versailles Sept. 27 to say goodbye to 19-year-old student Philippine de Carlan, who was found murdered in Bois de Boulogne, or the Boulogne Forest, in Paris Sept. 21.
Stop the wars while there is still time, pope tells Sant’Egidio peace summit in Paris
For three days, Paris welcomed several thousand participants from around the globe who took part in the 38th “International Meeting for Peace,” organized Sept. 22-24 by the Community of Sant’Egidio.