PARIS — Church leaders joined government officials in saying they
expect that Notre Dame Cathedral's grandeur will be restored as firefighters
extinguished the last flames of a fast-moving blaze that seriously damaged much
of the iconic structure.
"We are living through an extreme moment. This is Holy Week
and it isn't an accident," Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit said outside of
the 850-year-old historic structure late April 15 as firefighters continued to
attack the flames.
"Having marked the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are
now experiencing our own passion, but we know that after it will come the
resurrection. We believe in this and we will proclaim it by rebuilding this
cathedral," Archbishop Aupetit said.
The archbishop also appealed for church bells throughout Paris to
be rung in a sign of prayer and solidarity.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised the "extreme
courage and great professionalism" of first responders who helped save the
facade and towers of the Gothic landmark. He announced that a national
reconstruction fund would be established.
Speaking in front of the charred cathedral late April 15, Macron
said he understood the feelings of French Catholics in face of the disaster and
pledged the whole population would "stand with them" in restoring it.
"Notre Dame de Paris is our history, our literature, our
imagination, the place where we have experienced our great moments, the
epicenter of our life," said Macron, who was accompanied by the
archbishop, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and Paris Mayor Anne
Hidalgo.
"We built this cathedral over centuries, raising it up and
improving it, and I now state solemnly that we will, all of us together,
reconstruct it. This is undoubtedly part of the French destiny," Macron
said.
One of the rosette windows of Notre Dame Cathedral is seen scorched April 16 after the fire. PAUL HARING | CNS
Up to 500 firefighters battled for 15 hours to save the cathedral
after flames erupted in the structure's attic about 6:30 p.m. local time. The
blaze quickly consumed two-thirds of the 13th-century oak roof and brought down
the cathedral's 300-foot spire. Authorities said much of the cathedral's wooden
interior was destroyed and its masonry was seriously scorched.
The La Croix daily newspaper reported much of the building
continued to smolder April 16, as thousands of onlookers continued to pray and
sing hymns in nearby streets.
Rescue teams formed a human chain to remove many of the
cathedral's priceless artworks and sacred objects, including the crown of
thorns relic from Jesus' crucifixion and a gold tunic of St. Louis, the report
said.
Noted art historian Jean-Michel Leniaud told the newspaper April.
16 it was too soon to assess the extent of the fire damage but said it would
certainly represent "a major blow and terrifying mutilation of the
country's history."
The cathedral symbolized "relations between religion and
political power," he said, adding that he believed the French state should
"take charge of its reconstruction."
Meanwhile, offers of support in rebuilding the cathedral, a
UNESCO World Heritage site, came from church leaders and governments around the
world, including Donald Tusk, European Council president, who said April 16
that he hoped the European Union's 28 member-states would all help share the
costs.
French newspapers said the Pinault family, whose consortium owns
the Gucci and Saint-Laurent fashion brands, had pledged 100 million euros
(US$113 million) overnight, while the LVMH group, which includes Moet
Hennessy-Louis Vitton, had promised 200 million euros (US$226 million).
In a television interview in the wee hours of April 16,
Archbishop Aupetit said the cathedral symbolized "the soul and history of
France," as "a site traversing the centuries which was always a place
of faith."
He explained how the disaster had stirred "deep
emotions" throughout France, adding that he had received messages of
sympathy from faith leaders worldwide, including many Muslims.
The newly elected president of the French bishops' conference,
Bishop Eric Moulin-Beaufort of Reims, told the Famille Chretienne weekly April 16
the cathedral also represented "national unity during all tests," and
would be "an immense loss" to the whole world.
"Something from the best of humanity went up in flames
yesterday evening, and I sense a large part of humanity is in communion with
our grief," Bishop Moulin-Beaufort said.
"But cathedral edifices have been burned before and every
time they've been rebuilt even more beautifully. So I see in this tragedy the
occasion for a national restart and a sign of resurrection for the whole
nation," he said.
Paris prosecutors said they had opened investigations into the
cause of massive fire and were questioning workers carrying out an eight-year
restoration project, launched in January.
Notre Dame's chief organist told the BBC the fire had been
reported shortly after an April 15 early evening Mass. He said he and other
members of the cathedral staff were "devastated."
He added that there was no news as yet about the state of the
cathedral's historic 8,000-pipe 18th-century organ, but said he still hoped it
could be preserved after lengthy repairs.
Statues are silhouetted in front of stained-glass windows inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Feb. 2, 2013. Gerard Roussel, Panoramic via Reuters | CNS

National Shrine collects funds to rebuild Notre Dame
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C., is collecting donations online for the Cathedral of Notre
Dame in Paris after the cathedral was damaged from a fire April 15. To donate online, go to nationalshrine.org/support-notre-dame/. For more information, contact Jacquelyn Hayes at
202/281-0615 or jhayes@bnsic.org.