Notre-Dame de Paris to reopen this weekend after five-year restoration effort

Notre-Dame de Paris will officially reopen this weekend, five years after a devastating fire destroyed much of the historic cathedral. The reconstruction, initially doubted by many, was completed ahead of schedule, with a ceremony set for Saturday and masses on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron had promised to restore the cathedral within five years, a goal achieved despite challenges, including the death of the project leader. An international team of 2,000 workers restored the structure, using materials from across France. The restoration cost is expected to exceed €900 million, raised from 340,000 donors worldwide. Macron will deliver a speech outside the cathedral, as the Catholic Church oversees its interior restoration.