The reopening of Notre Dame was a solemn celebration of cultural and spiritual renewal. Yet for some, the historic cathedral's revival also felt like a meticulously choreographed branding event from LVMH and other luxury conglomerates.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, reopened and hosted its first Mass on Sunday (12/8). It marked the first since the catastrophic fire that destroyed much of the landmark church in 2019. Notre Dame received nearly $1 billion in donations from around the world to rebuild the religious institution.

Following an enormous, expensive restoration effort after the devastating 2019 fire, the Paris cathedral has reopened to the world, at once recognizably itself and possessed of a startling new vibrancy.