The news came as a thunder on
Monday night after a violent blaze had engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral in
Paris a symbol of France and one of Europe’s most visited historical monuments.
A thick stack of smoke went up into the sky and ashes covered a large surface
of the French capital.
The tragedy struck at an important
moment for Catholic Christians who are presently in the Holy Week preparing to
celebrate Easter on Sunday. Ironically the fire started on April 15th,
the World Art Day. Notre Dame, a gem of Gothic architecture, which was
completed in 1345 after construction works that lasted more than 180 years, was
being refurbished when the blaze broke out.
The country’s president Emmanuel
Macron visited the site on Monday night as well as Prime Minister Edouard
Philippe and many public and private personalities. President Macron has
pledged this symbol of Paris will be rebuilt.
Emmanuel Macron: We will build it together! Undoubtedly it
represents a large part of France’s destiny. This is our project for the years
to come and I am committed to it. We are going to launch a fund raising
campaign, maybe even beyond our borders. We are going to summon some of the
most talented people and I believe there are many those willing to contribute.
We will rebuild Notre Dame. That’s what the French expect and because it’s what
our history deserves.
France will find resources to
rebuild Notre Dame and this will probably be also a moment of regaining
national solidarity, Luca Niculescu, Romania’s ambassador to Paris said
describing the cathedral as a symbol of Christianity and European culture.
Luca Niculescu: We all have
a connection with Notre Dame; we’ve all have read something about it or seen
films about this cathedral. There may not be a more powerful symbol of Paris
than Notre Dame. Of course there are other symbols like Louvre or the Eiffel
Tower, but Notre Dame almost has a millennial significance. This 800 years old
cathedral has seen centuries of history.
The head of the Romanian state Klaus
Iohanis has conveyed a message expressing Romania’s solidarity with France in
this tragedy. Heart-rending news comes from Paris. Notre Dame, a historical
symbol of the European culture is ablaze. Romania stands by France in this
tragedy’, the Romanian president has written on a social network. Romanian
Prime Minister Viorica Danicila has also conveyed a message of solidarity with
the French people. I was hurt by the terrible news coming from Paris, Notre
Dame is a symbol of France and Europe. My heart goes out to our French
friends’, Prime Minister Dancila wrote.