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Notre Dame fire: artworks to be sent to Louvre as donations pour in – live updates Notre Dame fire: artworks to be sent to Louvre as donations pour in – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Police and fire services will spend the next 48 hours assessing the “security and safety” of Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire at the historic monument in the centre of Paris on Monday evening.Laurent Nuñez, a junior interior minister, said on Tuesday that the primary concern of French authorities now was identifying weaknesses in the centuries-old structure. Police and fire services will spend the next 48 hours assessing the “security and safety” of Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire at the historic monument in the centre of Paris on Monday evening.
Private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was devastated by fire.The French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced on Tuesday that he and the LVMH luxury conglomerate he controls would donate €200m (£170m) to the reconstruction efforts. Laurent Nuñez, a junior interior minister, said on Tuesday that the primary concern of French authorities now was identifying weaknesses in the centuries-old structure.
France’s culture minister says the “most precious treasures” of Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral have been saved after a devastating fire, including the crown of thorns Catholic relic and the tunic of Saint Louis.Franck Riester told reporters outside Notre Dame that other works are being transferred from a storeroom in City Hall to the Louvre on Tuesday and Wednesday. There they will be dehumidified, protected and eventually restored. Private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was devastated by fire.
Pope Francis has been offering his prayers that Notre Dame, the “architectural gem of a collective memory,” will once again be a shrine to the Catholic faith, a symbol of the French nation and a spiritual and architectural gift to humanity. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was “sad to see this part of us burn”, later tweeting that the cathedral would be rebuilt and announcing an international fundraising campaign to pay for reconstruction. The French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced on Tuesday that he and the LVMH luxury conglomerate he controls would donate €200m (£170m) to the reconstruction efforts.
We’re closing the blog now. Thanks for reading. You can keep up to date with the rest of our coverage here. France’s culture minister says the “most precious treasures” of Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral have been saved after a devastating fire, including the crown of thorns Catholic relic and the tunic of Saint Louis.
Franck Riester told reporters outside Notre Dame that other works are being transferred from a storeroom in City Hall to the Louvre on Tuesday and Wednesday. There they will be dehumidified, protected and eventually restored.
Pope Francis has been offering his prayers that Notre Dame, the “architectural gem of a collective memory,” will once again be a shrine to the Catholic faith, a symbol of the French nation and a spiritual and architectural gift to humanity.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was “sad to see this part of us burn”, later tweeting that the cathedral would be rebuilt and announcing an international fundraising campaign to pay for reconstruction.
Marc Bettinelli of Le Monde has been posting some images from Notre Dame since the outbreak of the fire. Here’s footage of the musician Gautier Capuçon, who came to play in tribute to the firefighters.Marc Bettinelli of Le Monde has been posting some images from Notre Dame since the outbreak of the fire. Here’s footage of the musician Gautier Capuçon, who came to play in tribute to the firefighters.
#NotreDame Le musicien Gautier Capuçon est venu jouer auprès de la cathédrale « en hommage aux @PompiersFR et pour transmettre un message d’espoir » pic.twitter.com/6dWFJuCFvV#NotreDame Le musicien Gautier Capuçon est venu jouer auprès de la cathédrale « en hommage aux @PompiersFR et pour transmettre un message d’espoir » pic.twitter.com/6dWFJuCFvV
Pledges from French corporations and wealthy families to help rebuild Notre Dame have topped €600 million, according to a report from the AFP news agency.Pledges from French corporations and wealthy families to help rebuild Notre Dame have topped €600 million, according to a report from the AFP news agency.
As some point out though, these are pledges.As some point out though, these are pledges.
#BREAKING Pledges from France's corporations and richest families to help rebuild the fire-ravaged #NotreDame cathedral in Paris have topped 600 million euros ($680 million)#BREAKING Pledges from France's corporations and richest families to help rebuild the fire-ravaged #NotreDame cathedral in Paris have topped 600 million euros ($680 million)
European Council president Donald Tusk says the message of encouragement to France after the Notre Dame Cathedral fire should be that “it’s not the end of the world” and that the damage will be repaired.European Council president Donald Tusk says the message of encouragement to France after the Notre Dame Cathedral fire should be that “it’s not the end of the world” and that the damage will be repaired.
Tusk told Polish reporters in Strasbourg after a European Parliament debate on Brexit that it was the duty of all Europeans and all Poles to give France courage after this “dramatic” event.Tusk told Polish reporters in Strasbourg after a European Parliament debate on Brexit that it was the duty of all Europeans and all Poles to give France courage after this “dramatic” event.
Recalling his native Poland’s efforts to rebuild its cities after the Second World War, Tusk said that his compatriots “have the right and the duty to say - You will manage, this is not the end of the world”.Recalling his native Poland’s efforts to rebuild its cities after the Second World War, Tusk said that his compatriots “have the right and the duty to say - You will manage, this is not the end of the world”.
Warsaw was one of those cities that was particularly badly damaged by Hitler’s troops in the second world war. Poles mobilised to rebuild the city with the rubble of its own destruction – and by drawing on the cityscapes, or vedute, of the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780).Warsaw was one of those cities that was particularly badly damaged by Hitler’s troops in the second world war. Poles mobilised to rebuild the city with the rubble of its own destruction – and by drawing on the cityscapes, or vedute, of the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780).
Here’s a piece from the Guardian in 2016 about that fascinating story:Here’s a piece from the Guardian in 2016 about that fascinating story:
Story of cities #28: how postwar Warsaw was rebuilt using 18th century paintingsStory of cities #28: how postwar Warsaw was rebuilt using 18th century paintings
A leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party has tried to link the fire to what she described as “rising intolerance” against Christians in Europe, even though French investigators have insisted that they believe the inferno was an accident.A leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party has tried to link the fire to what she described as “rising intolerance” against Christians in Europe, even though French investigators have insisted that they believe the inferno was an accident.
The AFP press agency reports that Alice Weidel, the parliamentary group leader of the Alternative for Germany, the country’s largest opposition party, implied a connection between Monday’s blaze and previous anti-Christian “attacks” in France.The AFP press agency reports that Alice Weidel, the parliamentary group leader of the Alternative for Germany, the country’s largest opposition party, implied a connection between Monday’s blaze and previous anti-Christian “attacks” in France.
“During Holy Week Notre Dame burns. March: second largest church Saint-Sulpice burns. February: 47 attacks in France,” Weidel wrote.“During Holy Week Notre Dame burns. March: second largest church Saint-Sulpice burns. February: 47 attacks in France,” Weidel wrote.
“The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe speaks of a significant increase,” she added, including a link to a March article in a German Catholic magazine headlined “Catholic churches desecrated across France”.“The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe speaks of a significant increase,” she added, including a link to a March article in a German Catholic magazine headlined “Catholic churches desecrated across France”.
Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed.Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed.
Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris Correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city since this morning.Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris Correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city since this morning.
“I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn.“I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn.
“We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.”“We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.”
It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said.It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said.
There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction.”There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction.”
Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDameToday we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame
Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief Cabinet secretary.Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief Cabinet secretary.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said.South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said.
Russian President Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians.” He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia is ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it.Russian President Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians.” He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia is ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it.
Austrian President Van der Bellen raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame is “an important symbol of our common European culture.”Austrian President Van der Bellen raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame is “an important symbol of our common European culture.”
(2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig(2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig