A correspondent for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo named Ignacio Gil captured this quietly heartbreaking video of Parisian onlookers singing “Ave Maria” as the light from the fires of the Notre Dame Cathedral reflects off their faces: A lovely rendition of one of history’s most beautiful songs, sung in the smoldering shadows of one of history’s most beautiful structures.
Ave Maria pic.twitter.com/lb6Y5XV05a
— Ignacio Gil (@Inaki_Gil) April 15, 2019
The cause of the fire in the Notre Dame Cathedral is unknown, but authorities believe a spark caused by renovations to the spire may to be to blame. No deaths have been reported and firefighters have been able to save most of the church’s vast and irreplaceable art from the fire, but the building itself may not survive.
French President Emmanuel Macron is on the scene. He told Parisians and press his thoughts were with “all Catholics and all French people. Like all of my countrymen, I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”
