French“Le Monde” article on December 10, the original title: Notre Dame de Paris: a symbol of French soft power, celebrations, masterpieces of Architecture and technology, the pinnacle of diplomacy, global events, symbols of solidarity in a political crisis… … the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris on December 7th carries multiple meanings. The impact was as profound and profound as the global shock of the April 15,2019, fire.
The President made good on his promise
Although the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire caused worldwide grief, it has so far failed to identify the specific person responsible. The disaster could have degenerated into a french-style mess: a state-church debate, traditional versus modern rivalries, scapegoating, and a dilatory and ineffective administrative system. As Ollivier Ribadeau Dumas, president of Notre Dame, told le monde, “Everything about Notre Dame is awe-inspiring, so everything is highly emotional.”
All the different confounding factors have not prevented the French president, Emmanuel Maqueron, from fulfilling his pledge to rebuild Notre Dame within five years.
This unassailable achievement was helped first and foremost by a $1.5 zero donation from multinationals, celebrities and ordinary donors, as well as global exposure to commitments made to sponsoring companies. The president’s own determination, continued personal involvement, and clear deadlines have ensured that this massive project can be completed at an astonishing rate.
The crystallization of public sentiment and the operation of power
But without the dedication and talent of carpenters, roofers, engineers, antiquities restorers, stonemasons, window craftsmen and other craftsmen, the president’s rhetoric would be in vain. The craftsmen carried out the restoration work under the guidance of a public body set up specifically for the reconstruction. It was first led by General Jean-louis Georgieland, who died and was succeeded by his deputy, Philip of Swabia Jost.
The restoration of notre-dame, with its restored pale yellow stone walls and painted windows, will it be as it was when President Maqueron visited notre-dame on November 29th, become“A symbol of national life” and“An antidote to depression”?
Indeed, the revival of Notre Dame is both a combination of public sentiment and the operation of high-level power, and a demonstration of the extraordinary political power of cultural heritage as a“Safe haven” in times of crisis and confusion. The controversy over the restoration of Violès le Duke’s minaret and the replacement and redesign of Notre Dame’s stained-glass windows have again highlighted the deep influence of conservatism.
A perfect opportunity to show off
The fact that the nearly 900-year-old notre-dame is regaining its glory at a record rate is not in itself a solution to France’s deep problems.
However, Notre Dame offers France a unique opportunity to showcase its magnificent organ as it plays in front of dozens of heads of state and government, it shows an extraordinary power that is often forgotten or overlooked-soft power. It shows that France can not only attract the world’s attention because of its crisis and turmoil, but also because of its talent, organisational ability and resilience, as demonstrated during the Paris Olympics.