Cathedral’s chief priest says Paris mayor backs idea of space for Catholics feeling orphaned after Monday’s blaze

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Catholic worshippers feeling orphaned by the fire that ravaged part of Notre Dame will be welcomed in an “ephemeral cathedral” made of wood in front of the Paris monument until it reopens, Notre Dame’s chief priest has said.

Speaking to France’s CNews television channel on Thursday, Monseigneur Patrick Chauvet said: “We mustn’t say ‘the cathedral is closed for five years’ and that’s it.”

To give the faithful somewhere to congregate next to Notre Dame, he suggested: “Can I not build an ephemeral cathedral on the esplanade [in front of Notre Dame]?”

Play Video 1:11 Notre Dame Cathedral: before and after the devastating fire – video

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, had backed the idea and agreed to give over part of the esplanade to the church for a wooden structure, he said.

Chauvet said the wooden “cathedral” would host priests who could address some of the millions of tourists who visited the original 850-year-old gothic cathedral each year.

On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron said he aimed to rebuild Notre Dame within five years.

The government said it would launch an international architecture contest to replace the burning steeple, which came crashing down during Monday’s inferno, along with a large part of the roof.

Chauvet said the surrogate “cathedral” would be erected quickly, as soon as the esplanade reopens after work to secure Notre Dame is completed.

Thursday will be a day of tribute to the Paris firefighters who saved Notre Dame from collapse and rescued its treasures from encroaching flames.

Macron will host fire crews for a special gathering. Later, Paris city hall will hold a ceremony in the firefighters’ honour, with a concert, two giant banners and readings from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

More than 400 firefighters took part in the nine-hour battle to save the 12th-century cathedral.

Among those being honoured is the Paris fire brigade chaplain Jean-Marc Fournier, who helped salvage the crown of thorns believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ.

Investigators so far believe the fire was accidental, and are questioning both cathedral staff and workers who were carrying out renovations when the fire broke out.

AFP and AP contributed to this report