Pope Francis in Message for Notre Dame Reopening says the Cathedral a "prophetic symbol of the Church’s renewal" and "you are its living stones” - FULL TEXT
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The famous Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris, France, reopened its doors with an opening Holy Mass. This is five years after a fire left it in ruins. Pope Francis sent a heartfelt message of solidarity, gratitude, and hope for the occasion. Pope Francis said he joins the faithful in spirit and prayer as Notre Dame Cathedral is reborn from the embers. In a message addressed to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, the Pope expressed his joy on this historic day. The message was read by the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday evening.https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2024/12/notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.html
FULL TEXT MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE REOPENING
OF NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS
[7 December 2024]
____________________
To His Excellency Monsignor Laurent Ulrich
Archbishop of Paris
I am very happy to join you, Excellency, in thought and prayer, as well as with all the faithful people gathered, and with all those present, on this solemn day when your Cathedral is reopened for worship. We all still remember the terrible fire that, five years ago, seriously compromised the building. Our hearts were heavy at the risk of seeing a masterpiece of Christian faith and architecture disappear, a centuries-old witness to your national history. Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration and praise.
I salute all those, especially the firefighters, who courageously worked to save this historic monument from the wreckage. I salute the determined commitment of the public authorities as well as the great outpouring of international generosity that contributed to the restoration. This outpouring is a sign not only of an attachment to art and history, but even more – and how encouraging this is! – a sign that the symbolic and sacred value of such a building is still widely perceived, from the smallest to the largest.
I also salute the remarkable work of the many trades that have invested themselves, generously giving the best of themselves to restore Notre-Dame to its splendor. It is beautiful and reassuring that the know-how of yesteryear has been wisely preserved and improved. But it is even more beautiful that many workers and craftsmen have testified to having experienced this restoration adventure in an authentic spiritual approach. They followed in the footsteps of their fathers whose faith alone, lived in their work, could build such a masterpiece where nothing profane, unintelligible or vulgar has its place.
May the rebirth of this admirable church therefore constitute a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France. I invite all the baptized who will enter this Cathedral with joy to feel a legitimate pride, and to reappropriate their heritage of faith. Dear faithful of Paris and France, this dwelling, which our Father in Heaven inhabits, is yours; you are its living stones. Those who preceded you in the faith built it for you: the innumerable representations and symbols it contains are intended for you in order to guide you more surely towards the encounter with God-made-man and rediscover his immense love.
Furthermore, Notre Dame will soon be visited and admired again by an immense crowd of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, religions, languages and cultures, many of them in search of the absolute and meaning in their lives. I know, Your Excellency, that the doors will be wide open to them, and that you will be committed to welcoming them generously and freely, as brothers and sisters. In the testimony of the Christian Community, may they perceive the peace that inhabits its praise, sense the joy of knowing and loving the Lord who has become closeness, compassion and tenderness. May they, raising their eyes to these vaults that have regained the light, share his invincible hope.
Imploring on the Church of France, and on all the French people, the protection of Notre-Dame de Paris, I wholeheartedly impart to you, as well as to all those present, the Blessing.
Saint John Lateran, November 21, 2024
FRANCIS
Source: Vatican.va with Vatican Media Image of Pope Francis at the Dec. 7 Consistory of CardinalsOF NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS
[7 December 2024]
____________________
To His Excellency Monsignor Laurent Ulrich
Archbishop of Paris
I am very happy to join you, Excellency, in thought and prayer, as well as with all the faithful people gathered, and with all those present, on this solemn day when your Cathedral is reopened for worship. We all still remember the terrible fire that, five years ago, seriously compromised the building. Our hearts were heavy at the risk of seeing a masterpiece of Christian faith and architecture disappear, a centuries-old witness to your national history. Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration and praise.
I salute all those, especially the firefighters, who courageously worked to save this historic monument from the wreckage. I salute the determined commitment of the public authorities as well as the great outpouring of international generosity that contributed to the restoration. This outpouring is a sign not only of an attachment to art and history, but even more – and how encouraging this is! – a sign that the symbolic and sacred value of such a building is still widely perceived, from the smallest to the largest.
I also salute the remarkable work of the many trades that have invested themselves, generously giving the best of themselves to restore Notre-Dame to its splendor. It is beautiful and reassuring that the know-how of yesteryear has been wisely preserved and improved. But it is even more beautiful that many workers and craftsmen have testified to having experienced this restoration adventure in an authentic spiritual approach. They followed in the footsteps of their fathers whose faith alone, lived in their work, could build such a masterpiece where nothing profane, unintelligible or vulgar has its place.
May the rebirth of this admirable church therefore constitute a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France. I invite all the baptized who will enter this Cathedral with joy to feel a legitimate pride, and to reappropriate their heritage of faith. Dear faithful of Paris and France, this dwelling, which our Father in Heaven inhabits, is yours; you are its living stones. Those who preceded you in the faith built it for you: the innumerable representations and symbols it contains are intended for you in order to guide you more surely towards the encounter with God-made-man and rediscover his immense love.
Furthermore, Notre Dame will soon be visited and admired again by an immense crowd of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, religions, languages and cultures, many of them in search of the absolute and meaning in their lives. I know, Your Excellency, that the doors will be wide open to them, and that you will be committed to welcoming them generously and freely, as brothers and sisters. In the testimony of the Christian Community, may they perceive the peace that inhabits its praise, sense the joy of knowing and loving the Lord who has become closeness, compassion and tenderness. May they, raising their eyes to these vaults that have regained the light, share his invincible hope.
Imploring on the Church of France, and on all the French people, the protection of Notre-Dame de Paris, I wholeheartedly impart to you, as well as to all those present, the Blessing.
Saint John Lateran, November 21, 2024
FRANCIS
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