President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this Saturday. The historic landmark has undergone extensive restoration following a devastating fire in April 2019.
“It is an honor to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the reopening of the magnificent and historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been fully restored after a devastating fire five years ago,” Trump said in a statement. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
Notre Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and iconic symbol of Paris, originally began construction in the 12th century.
The 2019 fire, which injured three emergency workers, destroyed much of the cathedral’s roof and caused its iconic spire to collapse. Many religious relics and artworks suffered smoke damage, and the building faced an uncertain future.
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to have the cathedral restored within five years—a goal achieved four months ahead of schedule.
One of the most challenging aspects of the restoration was replicating the cathedral’s original lead roof, which was supported by a centuries-old wooden framework known as “the forest.” This intricate lattice was crafted from oak trees that dated back several hundred years.
To reconstruct the roof and spire, approximately 1,000 oak trees were harvested from 200 French forests. These trees, which were between 150 and 200 years old, were carefully selected and felled in March 2020, just before the sap rose, to minimize moisture content in the wood.
The wood underwent a meticulous drying process, lasting 12 to 18 months, before being used in the restoration. Friends of Notre Dame Paris, a group closely involved in the project, detailed the extensive efforts to ensure authenticity in the rebuilding process.
At the time of the fire, the cathedral was already undergoing a planned restoration. The blaze, which began under the eaves, dramatically expanded the scope of work required to return Notre Dame to its former glory.
With the restoration complete, Saturday’s grand reopening marks a triumph of craftsmanship, resilience, and international cooperation. Trump’s attendance underscores the global significance of the event, celebrating not only a cultural treasure but also the spirit of renewal and preservation.
President Trump, who is not Catholic, in one of the first acts of his Presidency, is making a pilgrimage to the world’s premier shrine to the Mother of God.
I’d guess he’s going to have some powerful intercession on his behalf over the next four….