Notre Dame fire: Pope joins Paris
in sorrow, Vatican offers technical expertise
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| Flames and smoke engulf Notre Dame Cathedral (AFP) |
Pope Francis expresses his sorrow to the Archbishop of
Paris, and the people of France, for the fire that devastated Paris' Notre Dame
Cathedral, as the Vatican offers technical assistance for the historic
sanctuary’s reconstruction.
By Devin Watkins
“Following the fire that ravaged a large part of Notre Dame
Cathedral, I join you in your sorrow, as well as that of the faithful of your
diocese, the inhabitants of Paris, and all the French people.”
Pope Francis sent those words of solidarity to Archbishop
Michel Aupetit of Paris on Tuesday.
He assured all the people of France of his spiritual
closeness and prayers during Holy Week, as the Church recalls Jesus’ passion,
death, and resurrection.
National symbol damaged
“This disaster,” he wrote, “caused serious damage to a
historic building.”
“But,” the Pope went on, “I recognize that it has also
affected a national symbol dear to the hearts of Parisians and French people,
in the diversity of their convictions.”
He called Notre Dame “an architectural jewel of a collective
memory”, and said it was “the location of many great events and a testimony to
the faith and prayer of the city’s Catholics.”
Hope for the future
Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the courage of
the firemen who intervened to contain the blaze and his hope that it return to
its former glory.
“May Notre Dame Cathedral once again become – thanks to
reconstruction efforts and the mobilization of all – a sign of the faith of
those who built it”.
He said the 860-year-old sanctuary represents “the
architectural and spiritual heritage of Paris, of France, and of all humanity.”
Vatican offers expertise
Also on Tuesday, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi offered the
Vatican’s technical know-how to help rebuild Notre Dame.
The President of the Pontifical Council for Culture told
reporters that the Holy See could take part in some specific area of the
reconstruction, making reference to the technical expertise of the Vatican
Museums.
“We have the type of know-how that the whole world
recognizes as being of a high quality,” said Cardinal Ravasi. “So I think an
eventual future offer by the Holy See will be significant.”
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