Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit confirmed on Tuesday that the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral, partially destroyed by fire in 2019, could start " in January 2021 ", once the consolidation phase of the building has passed. “ We finish all the consolidation. Reasonably, we can start work in January 2021 ", he declared to the press during the inauguration of an exhibition of children's drawings representing the cathedral, on the palisade of the building site, in the presence of Jean- Louis Georgelin, chief operating officer of the reconstruction of the jewel of Gothic art.
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“ There are always uncertainties. But it is reasonable to think so, "said the archbishop, welcoming, in addition, to several dozen schoolchildren present, the" sign of hope "given by the children with their drawings.
The site has known some ups and downs. It had been delayed during the summer by measures against lead contamination. Then in the fall and winter, the bad weather blocked the work. In the spring, the coronavirus plunged the site into sleep. He was able to resume recently with notably the last phase of the delicate dismantling operation of the scaffolding of the Notre-Dame spire, which began last week.
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The ambition of President Emmanuel Macron is to revive the cathedral by 2024. Mgr Aupetit also blessed a replica of the statute of Our Lady, - the Virgin with the pillar - installed for a few days on the forecourt.
