Watch | Virgin Mary statue returns to Notre-Dame post $580M restoration

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Paris on Friday, holding candles and singing hymns, as they escorted the famed statue of the Virgin Mary and child back to Notre-Dame Cathedral. The statue, temporarily relocated to a nearby church after the devastating 2019 fire, marked its symbolic return ahead of the cathedral’s reopening next month.

Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich blessed the statue during the procession, surrounded by white flowers. “The world will find again this place of refuge, this invitation to contemplate and hope,” Ulrich said.

Notre-Dame to reopen after years of restoration

Notre-Dame Cathedral, an iconic Parisian landmark built between the 12th and 14th centuries, is set to reopen on December 8, 2024, with multiple festivities planned. The reopening follows years of painstaking restoration after a massive fire gutted the structure on April 15, 2019.

While authorities suspect the blaze was caused by an electrical fault or a cigarette, the exact cause remains unknown.

Restoration and funding

The cathedral's facade survived the fire, but extensive damage required years of work by 500 workers racing to stabilize and restore the structure. Restoration efforts have cost €550 million ($580 million), funded by public donations and contributions from prominent donors, including luxury sector magnates François-Henri Pinault and the Arnault family.

Officials say the donations have been so significant that surplus funds will be used for further investments in Notre-Dame.

Reopening events and future plans

French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the reopening, including its inaugural mass. Nearly 40,000 pilgrims and 8,000 scholars have already registered for pilgrimage services, with the cathedral expecting 14-15 million visitors annually.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati has proposed charging a small entry fee to finance maintenance of other French churches, but for now, visiting Notre-Dame remains free.

The return of the Virgin Mary statue and the impending reopening symbolize resilience and renewal, ensuring the cathedral’s legacy as a global spiritual and cultural treasure.

(With Reuters inputs)