The new opportunity to showcase France's "soft power" after the Olympics comes despite an unprecedented political crisis – five and a half years after the devastating fire, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening its doors, attended by more than forty heads of state and government.
On Saturday evening, Emmanuel Macron, who has previously described the remarkably swift restoration of one of Paris's main landmarks as an outstanding achievement, will deliver a speech, followed by a liturgical ceremony.
However, bad weather has hindered the preparations and execution of the event. Météo-France forecasts wind gusts of 65 to 80 kilometers per hour on Saturday. Reportedly, the entire program will take place inside Notre-Dame rather than on the cathedral square, and the planned concert featuring pop stars from French-speaking countries and representatives of the world-renowned French touch electronic music genre will be shown as a recording.
The Élysée Palace does not hide that the opening of this iconic structure will also serve as a venue for diplomatic maneuvers.
Among Macron's guests are Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, and British heir Prince William.
According to French media, even before the festivities, Macron will meet with the elected U.S. president to discuss Ukraine, Iran, the Middle East, and the risk of transatlantic trade wars.
"The President of Ukraine will attend the celebrations for the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. He will meet with President Macron. Other meetings are also possible, including with Donald Trump," reported a Ukrainian official quoted by the newspaper "Le Monde."
This will mark the first meeting between the two leaders following the Republican's reelection.
French media state that Paris made efforts until the last moment to persuade Pope Francis to attend the ceremony, but the Vatican did not accept the invitation.
According to Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, the pontiff told him that he prefers to visit smaller countries where "the church is facing difficulties."
"This aligns with how Francis views his ministry," added the archbishop.
The Paris police prefecture expects about 3,000 people to be present at the cathedral or nearby on Saturday, with an additional 44,000 spectators watching the events from the banks of the Seine.
To ensure the safety of the event, city authorities have mobilized "6,000 police officers, gendarmes, and military personnel." This includes special units such as the river brigade and drone combat teams.
Throughout the weekend, the "anti-terrorism" perimeter will encompass the entire Île de la Cité and part of the left bank of the Seine. Outside this perimeter, police presence will be intensified in other areas of Paris adjacent to this zone.
The first mass and consecration of the new altar will take place on Sunday.
During the following week, Notre-Dame will be open to visitors from 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM from Monday to Friday and until 8:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Special services will be dedicated to those who worked on the construction, donated money, volunteered, and to the firefighters.
On December 13, the crown of thorns, which, according to the Gospels, was placed on the head of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion, will return to the cathedral.
It is expected that visiting Notre-Dame will remain free of charge.