'Part of us is burning': Macron tweets as iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is on fire

15 Apr, 2019 18:19 / Updated 5 years ago

French President Emmanuel Macron has extended his sympathies to all Catholics and all citizens of France as "part of us burns," referring to the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris) in central Paris.

“Our Lady of Paris is in flames,” the president tweeted on Monday evening, as the church's spire and roof collapsed. “My thoughts are with all the Catholics and all the French. Like all our compatriots, I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”

Built starting in the 12th century, the Gothic architecture jewel was undergoing repairs. The scaffolding around the roof and the spire of the church caught fire on Monday, and firefighters have struggled to contain the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

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