A Labor of Love and Faith

André Finot, the communications manager for the charity Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, reflected on the cathedral's reconstruction and the fire that destroyed its roof and spire. Finot, who served as the cathedral's communications manager for nearly a decade and witnessed the fire firsthand, has spent the last six years following the work of architects and craftsmen during the restoration process.

The charity was founded in 2016 following discussions between Finot, art history professor Andrew Tallon, and then-Archbishop of Paris Cardinal André Vingt-Trois. Tallon had warned that the cathedral was in poor condition and risked collapsing within ten years if funds were not raised to save it. The organization currently works to preserve the historic site.