For the first time since the 2019 fire, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral hosted traditional Nativity masses on Tuesday. From 8 a.m., the crowd gathered to celebrate this significant event, as Valentin Lacroix, in charge of reception, pointed out: “Since 8 a.m. this morning, the line has been continuous. »
Several services were planned: at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and Midnight Mass, celebrated by the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich. “We are now back at Notre-Dame, which has just been returned to worship and visitors. Our hearts are celebrating! » he said in his Christmas message.
A popular craze
From 3 p.m., around a hundred people were waiting on the square. Marie-Christine Bascourret, a retiree, attended the 4 p.m. mass after an hour of waiting: “It gave me heart,” she confides, moved. Daniel James, an American flight attendant from Seattle, describes his experience as “magical and special”. “It’s a feeling of hope, of joy,” he added.
Matthieu de Coene, 28, said he was surprised by the fluidity of access without reservation: “We had little hope of getting in but in the end it was rather smooth. » Florence Kergorrou, a Parisian, highlighted the opportunity to “kill two birds with one stone” by combining mass with a visit to the monument. For Valentine Guilleux, a student who came with her family, the wait was worth it: “This is the first time and probably the only time I will go to Midnight Mass at Notre-Dame. »
Three more masses for Christmas Day
During his speech, Mgr Laurent Ulrich praised the “talents deployed on the restoration site”, which made it possible to transform the pain of the fire into joy. “May the pain of the fire and the five years of separation be erased to leave only the joy of reunion,” he said.
Our file on Notre-Dame de Paris
Access, however, remains limited to 2,700 people, given the massive crowds and it is strongly recommended to come well in advance. For the celebrations on Wednesday, Christmas Day, three masses are still scheduled at 8:30 a.m., at 11 a.m. (broadcast live on France 2) and finally at 6 p.m.