Notre Dame fire: Is Notre Dame owned by Catholic Church? Calls for Vatican to help rebuild

Catholics are among the people worldwide who have been left heartbroken by the devastating Notre Dame fire in France. The 850-year-old Parisian cathedral was ravaged by a fast-moving blaze on Monday, causing the spire and roof to burn and collapse. Initial estimates put the cost of the rebuild of the 12th-century Parisian landmark at a possible maximum $8billion. Despite almost £778million (€900million) being pledged by investors and companies so far, there is still a huge amount to raise.

Is Notre Dame owned by Catholic Church and will it help to rebuild the cathedral?

Notre Dame is owned by the French government and not the Catholic Church, contrary to popular opinion.

In 1905, a French law was passed stating the cathedral was now the property of the French State.

Responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the building, therefore, falls under the responsibility of the French Ministry of Culture.

However, the 1905 ruling stated the building’s use was “dedicated exclusively to the Roman Catholic rite”, according to the Notre Dame official website.

The importance of the cathedral for Catholics has resulted in the Vatican offering its restoration expertise to help rebuild Notre Dame.

Following the blaze, the Holy See’s Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said: “I think one of the greatest contributions the Holy See can make … will be above a technical one because we have, for example, the Vatican Museums.

“We have the type of know-how that the whole world recognises as being of a high quality.

“That is why I think an eventual future offer by the Holy See will be significant. We could take part in some specific areas (of restoration).”

No indication of funds has been made at this point.

But President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Thursday Pope Francis has pledged to visit Notre Dame soon.

The leader of the Catholic Church expressed his sorrow over the blaze earlier this week.

Mr Macron said: “I spoke to the Pope yesterday by telephone. I obviously invited him to come over, and he will come at a time of his suiting.”

Meanwhile, France has launched an international architecture competition to redesign the destroyed 295-foot spire, dating back to the 19th century.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the aim was to build ”a new spire that is adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era”.

He added: “The international competition will allow us to ask the question of whether we should even recreate the spire.”

source: express.co.uk