Powerful image shows cross shining through wreckage at Notre Dame Cathedral
A photo of a gilded cross gleaming through the smoke and haze after a fire ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has proven to be a symbol of hope following an unspeakable tragedy.
The world watched in horror on Monday as a massive blaze ripped through the centuries-old church, gutting and destroying the roof of the French landmark, including its iconic spire.
As firefighters worked tirelessly to save the historic structure, a photograph was taken of the altar, in which a large, golden cross can be seen reflecting light amid charred debris and rising smoke.
Promises to rebuild the landmark began even before the fire had been extinguished, with French President Emmanuel Macron announcing an international fundraising effort to pay for reconstruction.
“We will rebuild Notre Dame, because that is what the French expect," he said Monday evening.
As of Tuesday afternoon, millions of dollars in small donations have poured in to fund the project via multiple French and American charities.
French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, husband of actress Salma Hayek, pledged to donate 100 million euros ($113 million) to help reconstruct the cathedral.
A "long and complex investigation" into the origin of the fire will be conducted, according to Paris prosecutor Rémy Heitz, but for now, it is being considered an accident possibly related to an ongoing construction project at the cathedral.
