France’s Macron sees the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral more than 5 years after it was destroyed by fire.

Paris – After more than five years of reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral showed its new personality to the world on Friday, with a rebuilt soaring roof and beautiful cream stonework erasing the sad memories of its devastating fire in 2019.

French TV showed live footage of President Emmanuel Macron visiting the cathedral, which looks like worshipers may have seen in ancient times, with its wide, open spaces filled with bright light on a mild winter day, with the bright sun shining through the bright colors of the stained-glass windows.

The flames and smoke that tore through the roof of the stone building caused extensive damage, and repairs cost more than $700 million.

But by Friday, the torn holes in the insulated roof and the charred piles of rubble were gone, filled with new stones. Delicate golden angels gaze from the center of the reconstructed roof.

The limestone walls of the cathedral look fresh, not only cleaned of dust from the fire but also dirt that has accumulated over the years. The cathedral attracted millions of worshipers and visitors every year before the fire.

Powerful cleaning equipment was used to first remove the toxic dust that was released when the fire melted the cathedral’s lead roof. Fine layers of latex were then sprayed onto the surface and removed a few days later, removing the dirt as well.

Macron entered through the main gate of the cathedral with elaborately carved front doors and stared at the ceiling in amazement. He was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte, the archbishop of Paris and others.

“You have achieved what was thought impossible,” Macron told staff after his renaissance tour. “The fire that broke out in Notre-Dame was a wound to the nation, and it was its cure with love, with work, with commitment.”

His visit begins a series of events that usher in the rediscovery of 12th-century Gothic art. Macron will return on December 7 to deliver an address and attend the consecration of the new altar during a solemn Mass the following day.

60 Minutes reporter Bill Whitaker got a rare peak this morning inside the cathedral that was rebuilt two weeks ago, while work was still underway, and spoke with the man tasked with bringing it back to life, Philippe Jost.

“We’re all proud of what we’ve done together,” Jost told Whitaker.

Asked what first came to his mind when he entered the restored building, Jost said it was the “breathtaking” feeling of light and space.

“In this monument, there is a soul,” he told 60 Minutes in an interview that will air Sunday. “We can hear it… If we come in now, we can hear it.”