The fire on April 15, 2019, severely damaged parts of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, melting 40,000 metal bars that had been erected as scaffolding for a previous repair project. The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral has now been halted, with workers being asked to return home, as France is engulfed in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notre Dame still stands, but its two bell towers have been badly damaged from the inside by the fire. "As long as this scaffolding is around, there is a 50% chance that further damage will occur to the cathedral," said Reverend Brice de Malherbe.
On Good Friday, April 10, Archbishop Michel Aupetit held a small ceremony inside Notre Dame, at the foot of the still-intact golden cross. "We stand in this half-destroyed cathedral to say that life is still here. The message of hope is especially important for patriots, especially in these times when we are so severely affected by Covid-19, which is spreading suffering and death," Archbishop Michel Aupetit said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on April 15 that he hoped Notre Dame would be open in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. "We will do everything possible to meet this deadline. Notre Dame is a symbol of resilience, of the ability to overcome challenges and stand tall," President Macron said. However, the reconstruction of the cathedral has been stalled, from the discovery of toxic dust from the melted lead roof to the health risks to workers due to the pandemic.
French officials hope to remove the scaffolding in the fall, then conduct a brick analysis to determine what needs to be replaced. Burned rubble and ancient ornaments will need to be cleared from the upper vaults, said Malherbe. The dome structure will need to be rebuilt to protect the interior of the cathedral, which is currently shielded by barricades.
AP reports that those responsible for rebuilding Notre Dame are temporarily halting work due to the lockdown in Paris. "The cathedral has been seriously damaged, that's undeniable," said Jean-Louis Georgelin, the head of the reconstruction project appointed by President Macron, but insisted the structure has successfully withstood the heat from the fire, water leaking from cracks, the summer heat and strong winds. Mr. Georgelin said sensors have been installed to record any unusual developments in the cathedral.
Donors large and small have donated more than $200 million to the reconstruction, Georgelin said. Meanwhile, billionaires Francois Pinault and Bernard Arnault, who own LVMH, and oil giant Total, have pledged $437 million to the project. Meanwhile, Germany has offered to help build the cathedral's large windows, with the participation of glass manufacturers who have carried out cathedral renovation projects in the country. With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging in Europe, the Notre Dame reconstruction project is likely to continue to lag behind schedule.
