REPORTAGE
It's a special Easter weekend ahead for Notre-Dame de Paris and all the Christian community in the country, after the fire of the cathedral during this Holy Week which started last Sunday, Sunday of the Palm. Friday, the faithful waited with much apprehension the procession of the Way of the Cross, which reproduces step by step the way of Christ in Jerusalem, until his crucifixion.
AFP photo.
"These stones are the testimony of an invincible hope". This is the first time this Way of the Cross did not take place in Notre Dame. Before going through the 14 stations, that is to say the 14 symbolic steps that marked the way of the cross of Christ, the bishop of Paris, Monsignor Michel Aupetit reassured the thousand faithful gathered on the Saint-Louis bridge. "Our Lady of Paris, our dear cathedral was destroyed by a frightening fire, France is crying, it is touching the heart because these stones are the testimony of an invincible hope, this faith remains ours, always and ever".
>> IN IMAGES - The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris ravaged by the flames
A stroll under the sun of Paris. The procession wandered for two hours under a bright sun on the docks around Notre-Dame. "Sixth station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus," recites a member of the clergy. "It's amazing to see Our Lady like that, all burnt, as we said in the procession, it's true that we're still in a dechristianized world, lacking in spirituality, so it's true that it's interesting to be there, in the middle of the population ", testifies at the microphone of Europe 1 a participant. "It allows us to remember, a little under the same conditions, the way of the cross of Christ, which was done in the streets of Jerusalem, to Golgotha," adds another processionary.
AFP Photo
The crown of thorns remained in the safe. The crown of thorns (relic of the Passion of Christ kept at Notre-Dame, ed ), which should have been shown Friday during the procession, was finally hidden in his safe, not to take risks. But many worshipers said that what was important to them was that this Holy Week ends much better than it started.