Seth Udinski, FISM News
In April of 2019, the world watched as one of the most iconic and beloved churches in history burned. Notre Dame Cathedral, one of France and Christendom’s most treasured landmarks, suffered a devastating fire that destroyed much of its timber roof. The medieval cathedral was closed following the fire in order to begin work on renovations.
Earlier this year, FISM News reported that the rebuilding process has begun. The French government has begun collecting the lumber needed to replace the roof, and now the nation has announced a possible date for the completion and reopening of the iconic church.
According to French officials, the target year for the re-opening of Notre Dame to the public is 2024. General Jean-Louis Georgelin, president of the charity Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, went on CNN over the weekend and shared the news,
We’ll be able to firmly go ahead with the phase of restoring and rebuilding the parts destroyed by the fire, so that it’s ready to reopen for services and public visits in 2024.
The rebuilding of the Cathedral is an encouragement for France and for many Christians who want to see their heritage preserved. Construction began on the mighty church in the 12th century AD and was completed in the early 14th century. The wooden roof that had been destroyed in the 2019 fire was part of a 19th-century addition.
France is on the clock for the rebuild, as the nation is set to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Paris officials hope to have the country’s most historic building restored in time for the competition.