Our Lady of Paris welcomes the first mass after two months of devastating fire

For security reasons, the mass led by Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris will be celebrated on a very small scale.

Paris:

The Cathedral Of Our Lady of Paris will host its first mass on Saturday, exactly two months after the devastating fire that shook France and the world.

For security reasons, the mass led by Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris will be celebrated on a very small scale. The faithful will have to wear a helmet, but the priests will wear their ceremonial attire.

About 30 people, half of them clergy, will be broadcast live on the Catholic television channel KTO.

It will take place at 18h00 (16h00 GMT) in the chapel of the Virgin, on the east side of the cathedral, behind the choir, whose security has been confirmed.

Aupetit will be accompanied by the rector of Notre-Dame, Patrick Chauvet, canons, volunteers, people working in the restoration as well as a handful of lay faithful.

The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the consecration of the altar of the Cathedral, celebrated each year on June 16.

The date is "very significant spiritually," Chauvet told AFP, adding that he was happy to be able to show that "Our Lady is really alive."

"Inventive Reconstruction""
President Emmanuel Macron set an ambitious five-year goal for the restoration of Notre-Dame, which was ravaged by a fire on 15 April that destroyed its bell tower and consumed the truss trusses supporting the roof.

The diocese is awaiting a response from the French authorities on the possibility of reopening to the public the esplanade located in front of the cathedral.

If the authorities approve the plan, the idea is to celebrate the evening prayers, said the diocese.

The church also launched the idea of building a temporary structure in front of the cathedral to accommodate the faithful while the building was being repaired.

Since the fire, nearly 150 workers have worked daily at the cathedral, continuing to remove debris and stabilize the structure.

Two large white awnings were placed above the nave and choir to protect the building, including from rain.

Macron's call for an "inventive" reconstruction of the bell tower rather than an identical one left some architects angry.

Meanwhile, reconstruction legislation has been blocked in Parliament due to disagreements between the upper and lower houses and is expected to be passed only towards the end of July.

Pledges of about € 850 million ($960 million) have been made by French businessmen and ordinary citizens, but only about 10% have been paid so far.