Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Saturday, April 20, received in the Vatican French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Holy See Press Office has said. Alessandro Gisotti, the “ad interim” director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists that the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher was also present at the meeting.

Among issues discussed during the meeting were the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris devastated by the terrible fire last Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, Le Drian renewed the invitation to Pope Francis to visit Paris. Gisotti said the invitation was “welcomed with attention and consideration".

Following the April 14 blaze that destroyed the wooden roof and the spire of the 850-year old Notre Dame Cathedral, the Pope Francis’ expressed his closeness to the people of France and pledged his prayers for all striving to cope with the tragic situation.

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