Notre Dame Cathedral reopens with jubilant ceremonies 5 years after fire nearly destroyed Gothic wonder

Notre Dame Cathedral formally reopened its doors Saturday, more than five years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old Gothic wonder at the center of the City of Lights.

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris is presiding over the reopening with French President Emmanuel Macron and more than 1,500 invite-only guests, among them 50 heads of state, Prince William, first lady Jill Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, who made his first foreign trip since his presidential victory last month, and Elon Musk.

The event — the culmination of a painstaking, $760 million restoration project — is taking place on one of the Roman Catholic Church’s holiest days — the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the belief that Mary, to whom the cathedral is dedicated, was conceived without sin.

Before the ceremony, Trump, donning a black suit and yellow tie, shook hands with world leaders, including Prince William. Macron and his wife Brigitte also posed for photos with Biden outside.

The massive bell outside began to sound multiple times beginning at 1:09 EST, and Macron and his wife stood outside facing the cathedral in reverent attention. Crowds, well away from the cathedral due to security measures, could be heard cheering the peeling that rang over the darkened city.