PARIS, France (AFP) — France celebrated the reopening of the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark during a 2019 blaze.

A two-hour service attended by incoming United States President Donald Trump among other world leaders began with the archbishop of Paris knocking on the doors of the cathedral three times.

“Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to bring together the far-flung children of God in joy,” archbishop Laurent Ulrich commanded, banging with a wooden staff crafted from a roof beam that survived the inferno five years ago.

Trump was seated on the front row as guest of honor next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with he and other invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting installed as part of the overhaul.

In a short speech, Macron expressed the “gratitude of the French nation” for the restoration work, achieved at frenzied speed over the last five years.

France had “rediscovered what great nations can do — achieve the impossible,” he said.