His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his sorrow to the Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris, and the people of France, for the fire that devastated Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, as the Vatican offers technical assistance for the historic sanctuary’s reconstruction.
Being one of the oldest and most imposing cathedrals in France, the Notre Dame cathedral Paris‘s construction started in the 12th century and was finally finished 300 years later. Notre Dame cathedral has French Gothic architecture, also influenced by the times during the construction took place (Renaissance and Naturalism); it has a unique and fascinating beauty through its architecture, painting and strength, considering it survived over so many years.
During the French Revolution, the Cathedral of Notre Dame suffered lots of damage, but it was restored by a talented engineer and kept its fame. Having symmetrical, powerful beauty, this must-see of Paris has witnessed a lot of important ceremonies for Christianity and the history of nations. Joan of Arc in 1909 was beatified, in the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris by Pope Pius X. Because of all this, people from all over the world, no matter what beliefs they have, come to visit it and are stunned by its grace. The Notre Dame Cathedral, has a story of the hunchback who was the inspiration for movies and cartoons (known as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.
An unexpected event, on Monday, 15 April 2019, just before 18:50 Central European Summer Time, a fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris. The fire got extinguished fifteen hours later, the building’s spire and most of its roof had been destroyed and its upper walls severely damaged; extensive damage to the interior was prevented by its stone vaulted ceiling which largely contained the burning roof as it collapsed. Many works of art and other treasures were evacuated early in the emergency, but many others were damaged or destroyed. The cathedral’s two pipe organs and its three 13th-century rose window’s, suffered little damage. Three people were injured.
As reported by CNA, Father Pierre Amar was praying in Notre-Dame de Paris at 5 p.m. Monday evening to prepare spiritually for the Easter Triduum; hours later he was ringing the “funeral bells” at his parish to mourn the flames consuming the “mother of all the cathedrals in France.” The Archdiocese of Paris announced on April 16, that all of the Holy Week liturgies that had been scheduled to occur at Notre-Dame, to be held in Saint Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris.
“Following the fire that ravaged a large part of Notre Dame Cathedral, I join you in your sorrow, as well as that of the faithful of your diocese, the inhabitants of Paris, and all the French people.” His Holiness Pope Francis expressed those words of solidarity to Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris on Tuesday. Pope Francis assured all the people of France of his spiritual closeness and prayers during Holy Week, as the Church recalls Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. His Holiness Pope Francis called Notre Dame “an architectural jewel of a collective memory”.
