Paris, France, Apr 19, 2019 / 07:02 am
After a massive fire gutted the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris April 15, the cathedral's rector says a temporary wooden church might soon be constructed in the esplanade, or plaza, adjacent to the cathedral.
Monsignor Patrick Chauvet told France's CNews April 18 that he was exploring plans to build an "ephemeral cathedral" adjacent to Notre Dame, where cleanup and construction are expected to begin soon.
Mass would be celebrated and confessions offered at the temporary structure, Chauvet suggested, adding that Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo is a supporter of the idea.
"We mustn't say 'the cathedral is closed for five years' and that's it," Chauvet said Thursday.