Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas will become rector of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral next September, we learned on Friday June 24 from concordant sources.
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The current rector of the sanctuary of Lourdes "
will take office in September
," a source familiar with the matter told AFP.
Shortly before, Mgr Patrick Chauvet, rector of Notre-Dame de Paris since 2016, had, on the website of his parish - Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois - announced his departure as well as the appointment of Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas as “
rector archpriest of Notre-Dame
”.
Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas had been secretary general of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) from 2013 to 2019. The rector of the cathedral is responsible for the liturgy (it is the equivalent of a priest for a parish).
In conjunction with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, who is leading the file for the diocese, Monsignor Ribadeau-Dumas will have to take care of the restoration site of the building, badly damaged by a fire three years ago, in dialogue with the 'State.
Read also
Notre-Dame de Paris
: Roland Petit misunderstood, on France 5
On April 15, 2019, a spectacular fire broke out in this masterpiece of Gothic art, causing the collapse of its frame, its spire, its clock and part of its vault, devastated by the flames under the disbelieving and devastated gaze of millions of people around the world.
Emmanuel Macron aims to reopen it in 2024, although some work may continue afterwards.
In particular, the monument must be returned to worship for
the “anniversary
” of the fire, in April 2024. Before 2019, the building welcomed nearly 12 million visitors, 2,400 offices and 150 concerts per year.
