The archbishop's knock officially brings Notre Dame back to life as the winds howl and heads of state look on

Strong winds could not stop the heart of Notre Dame Cathedral from beating again.

With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, using a specially designed cross carved from fire-blasted beams, the memorial came back to life on Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece has reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer and awe beneath its soaring arches.

The ceremony, which was scheduled to begin in the front yard, was moved entirely indoors due to unusually strong December winds sweeping across the Ile de la Cité, surrounded by the Seine River. However, the occasion did not lose any of its splendor. Within the illuminated nave, the choirs sang the Psalms, and the cathedral's great organ, silent for nearly five years, came back to life in a triumphant interplay of tunes.

The restoration, an astonishing achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has championed the ambitious timetable – and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes.

The evening's celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US First Lady Jill Biden, Britain's Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized Notre Dame's enduring role as a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers believe that this event was created by Macron, and his intention to turn it into a full-fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France's ability to unite on the world stage despite internal political crises.

As the cathedral's largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — rang on the Paris night, marking the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into expectant silence. Emmanuel, the legacy of King Louis XIV, has echoed through centuries of French history, and its voice now echoes as an invitation to witness another historic moment.

Outside the cathedral's massive doors, Ulrich raised his fire-torn scepter. “Brothers and sisters, let us now enter Notre Dame,” he announced. “She is the one who accompanies us on our path towards peace.”

With more than 2,500 people watching in silence, Ulrich knocked on the illuminated doors, the base of his mace echoing against the wood. Inside, the choir responded with loud chants, their voices filling the nave. The lighting on the facade of the cathedral increased the intensity of the drama. At the final stroke, the heavy doors swung open, revealing a glowing interior of restored blond luteite limestone.

Adding to the ceremony's visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical clothing designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his distinctive pop art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 revelers, mixing modern elements with medieval touches.

The cathedral, bathed in lights and singing, came to life in a moment of stunning spectacle. What was a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago has now burst into renewed vigor, the culmination of a nearly billion-dollar global effort to revive it.

Macron's political problems

Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron on Saturday expressed his “gratitude” to those who saved, helped and rebuilt Notre Dame, and his voice echoed in the nave of the church.

“I stand before you… to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the venue with singing, a harmony that had not been heard for more than five years.

He added: “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in an instant, the organ will wake up, sending the 'music of hope' flowing through the illuminated interior to the Parisians, France and the world beyond.”

The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the country's politics into further turmoil.

Macron described the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral as a “shock of hope.” Observers say he hopes the occasion will briefly silence his critics and demonstrate France's unity and resilience under his leadership – a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a serious crisis.

Huge feats of restoration
Inside Notre-Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework – the equivalent of six football fields – shine again, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. At the top, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restore the cathedral’s tower and its famous roof.

The mighty organ, which had been dormant for over five years, had come back to life like a sleeping giant. With 7,952 pipes — ranging from the size of a pen to the size of a trunk — and a refurbished console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30-foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich's command: “Awake, organ, sacred instrument.”

The first low rumble developed into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out stations, weaving impromptu responses to the archbishop's invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; Eight times her voice filled the nave with a breathtaking sound.

The guests were amazed by this scene, and many of them captured this moment on their mobile phones. “It feels perfect,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral covered in scaffolding in 2021. “It was depressing then. Now, it's night and day.”

The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, the Ukrainian priest who leads Volodymyr Le Grand Church in Paris, spoke about his first visit to Notre Dame in more than a decade. “I didn't recognize him,” he said. “God is so powerful, He can change things.” He expressed his hope that the revival of the cathedral would inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of the Ukrainian president. “I think it will have a big impact,” he added. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary can help us resolve this conflict.”

The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of deep global unrest, with wars breaking out in Ukraine and the Middle East.

For Catholics, the priest of Notre Dame said the cathedral “holds the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and nurturing presence.”

“It's a wonderful symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribado-Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument – ​​it is a wonderful sign of hope.”

The international group of dignitaries coming to Paris underscores the importance of the cathedral as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.

Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral's ability to inspire. “It's almost been destroyed before, but it always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us can say the same after this tragedy, but Notre Dame can.”

Guests entered through Notre Dame's famous west façade, whose arched portals decorated with biblical carvings served as a visual guide to the faithful in the Middle Ages. Above the central portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, while demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire awe and fear, set the stage for a celebration steeped in history.

Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests waiting for the service filled the cathedral with human voices again, a stark contrast to the construction noise that had echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect the 7,952 pipes, which range from the size of a pen to the width of a stem.

Notre Dame echoed with sustained applause after a short film was shown documenting the massive rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” – thank you – is displayed on the cathedral's famous west facade. The film showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno – the huge holes made by its vaulted ceilings and the burning roof.

But what followed were images of all sorts of craftsmen, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever before. “We went from night to light,” said one of the film workers.

Security will be tight over the weekend, a repeat of measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

Ile de la Cité – the small island in the Seine River that houses Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris – is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police trucks and barricades blocked off cobblestone streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers wearing body armor and police dogs patrolled the embankments. Special security detail follows Trump.

Public viewing areas along the southern bank of the Seine River are scheduled to accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens.

For many, Notre Dame's rebirth is not just a French achievement, but a global one – after its reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors a year, up from 12 million before the fire.