The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has held its first Mass since reopening after a devastating fire five years ago.

More than 2,000 people, including French President Emmanuel Macron and people associated with churches both at home and abroad, as well as local citizens, attended the event on Sunday.

The roof and spire sustained major damage in the massive blaze in 2019. The cathedral was reopened on Saturday.

At the beginning of the Mass, the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich said he is thinking of all the people around the world who are facing the rigors of war and the violence of terrorism. He then offered a prayer for peace.
Participants sang hymns to the sound of the grand organ.

A woman in her 50s, who said she is associated with a local church, noted that although the fire was a tragedy, it prompted people to unite toward the common goal of rebuilding the cathedral. She expressed that she was deeply moved with the result.

A teenage girl said she was impressed with the Mass, and that the current global situation makes it even more important to pray for peace.

The cathedral is one of the major sightseeing attractions in the French capital. It says it is expecting about 40,000 visitors a day, surpassing the number before the fire. It recommends that people make advance reservations on a newly opened website.