Pope Leo XIV becomes the third reigning Pope, following Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, to visit both Paris and Lourdes
Pope Leo XIV will open his visit to France by presiding over Vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, marking the first papal liturgy celebrated under the Cathedral’s restored Gothic vaults since the 2019 fire incidence that took down the spire and roof. According to Pope Leo, “the cathedral’s reopening for the celebration of divine worship, and its embrace of visitors from around the world, was not only an impressive technical achievement but also a symbol of renewed hope.
The 2019 Fire & Rebuilding Effort
Recall that on April 15, 2019, a disastrous fire incidence destroyed Notre-Dame’s wooden roof and the 19th century iconic spire. Consequently, over 1000 specialized workers, craftsmen and artisans, were engaged to restore this Gothic cathedral within President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious five-year deadline. With Americans leading the list of foreign donors for the reconstruction work, the restoration work was eventually completed, and the new Cathedral was dedicated.
Expressing his appreciation to the French President and to all those involved in the restoration project, the Pope said, “French expertise is synonymous with excellence in numerous fields. This was particularly evident in the vast project of restoring the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, in which numerous private and public institutions were involved from the outset, and to which you, Mr. President, were especially committed. For this, I thank you. I express my deep appreciation to the many artists, builders, technicians and skilled workers who took part in the restoration”.
The Grand Reopening of the Restored Cathedral
December 7-8, 2024, marked the formal reopening of the reconstructed Cathedral with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocking on the wooden doors three times with a staff crafted from charred timber salvaged from the fire. Present at the reopening were 170 Bishops from France and around the world and over 40 heads of state and global dignitaries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Prince William, and the former First Lady of the U.S. Jill Biden, attended the ceremonies and inaugural Mass. According to Pope Leo, “the cathedral’s reopening for the celebration of divine worship, and its embrace of visitors from around the world, was not only an impressive technical achievement but also a symbol of renewed hope.
Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Visit
Beginning September 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV’s 4-day Apostolic Journey to France features Vespers at Notre-Dame, the first Papal Liturgy celebrated under its rebuilt vaults, alongside visits to Lourdes and Metz. Pope Leo joins St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI as only the third reigning pontiff to visit both Paris and Lourdes. However, while Pope Francis visited Strasbourg, Marseille, and Ajaccio in Corsica during his pontificate, he never visited Paris or Lourdes.
Taken together, the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral demonstrate that “something considered irreparably destroyed can be reborn through mutual cooperation, and it bore eloquent witness to the unity born of commitment to a common cause. May this remarkable achievement encourage all those responsible for the country’s political, social and religious life to work tirelessly and as one, inspired by a firm and lively hope”, the Pope concluded.
Emmanuel Ogacheko Idakwo
