Pope Leo XIV presides vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris

Pope Leo XIV presided over vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Friday, meeting with French bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and seminarians. During the gathering, the Pope asked clergy to ensure liturgical celebrations are conducted with dignity and decorum.

Addressing the restored cathedral, the Pope stated that the building is not merely a stone structure meant for admiration but lives through the sacred mysteries celebrated within it. He warned that the cathedral would lose its soul if deprived of liturgical action. He also noted that the Eucharist renews the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and emphasized the centrality of the liturgy and the Eucharist in Church life.

The visit follows the 2019 fire that damaged the cathedral, which reopened for worship in December 2024 after extensive restoration. The Pope acknowledged the work done during the reconstruction and the pastoral projects developed since the reopening, noting that the temple represents the heart of a people rather than just a historical monument.