Sheet of 12 perforated labels (RED) Reopening NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS 2024 (NDP24-FDR)

Fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris

On April 15, 2019, a fire ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, destroying its framework, roof, and spire in front of shocked onlookers. Visiting the site to assess the extent of the damage, while the fire was still extinguished, President Emmanuel Macron made a brief statement on the forecourt. "We will rebuild this cathedral together," he promised, announcing the launch of a national fundraising campaign to contribute to the reconstruction of the monument.

Notre-Dame de Paris is reconnecting with its role as a place of worship and history during a solemn ceremony.

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the reopening service took place in the presence of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, who spoke before many heads of state and government (including the President-elect of the United States Donald Trump), officials, patrons, invited jointly by the State and the diocese, representatives of all the parishes of Paris, members of the cathedral chapter and the Parisian clergy.

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, the first mass in the restored cathedral was marked by the consecration of the main altar. This mass, presided over by Mgr Laurent Ulrich, brought together nearly 170 bishops from around the world, priests from Paris, heads of state and the faithful who came to celebrate this unique event.

On December 7, 2024, the Historiaphil team went specially to Paris to have its philatelic editions, produced in commemoration of the official reopening ceremonies of the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, postmarked. The limited edition of 50 copies for each type of document published, makes it a philatelic rarity "Witness to History".