The Walt Disney Co. has pledged to contribute $5 million to aid in the reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral after Monday's fire.
In a statement on Wednesday, Disney chairman and chief executive Bob Iger says the company "stands with our friends and neighbors in the community."
The cathedral was the setting for Disney's 1996 animated adaptation of Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Disney is also developing a live-action adaption.
The Walt Disney Company today announced it is committing $5 million to aid in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris following the devastating fire that severely damaged the historic landmark this week: https://t.co/5Bm3BpDTPV pic.twitter.com/MFXAvUjsjg
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) April 17, 2019The theme park Disneyland Paris, originally named Euro Disney, is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) outside of Paris.
President Donald Trump says he had "a wonderful conversation" with Pope Francis on Wednesday, two days after a fire ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral.
Trump says in a tweet that he offered "condolences from the People of the United States for the horrible and destructive fire."
Just had a wonderful conversation with @Pontifex Francis offering condolences from the People of the United States for the horrible and destructive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. I offered the help of our great experts on renovation and construction as I did....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2019....in my conversation yesterday with President @EmmanuelMacron of France. I also wished both Pope Francis and President Macron a very Happy Easter!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2019And Trump says he offered the help of "our great experts on renovation and construction" and made the same offer to French President Emmanuel Macron in a call on Tuesday.
Trump and the pope had clashed over Trump's campaign pledge to build a wall along the southern U.S. border, but they appeared to get along well when they met in person during the president's trip to the Vatican in 2017.
Trump says he also wished both the Pope and Macron "a very Happy Easter!"
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra plans to donate the proceeds of an upcoming concert in Berlin to the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Paris landmark was badly damaged in a fire on Monday.
Berlin Cathedral, which is hosting the May 2 concert, said Wednesday that the event will take place under the theme "Standing together! Solidarity for Notre Dame de Paris."
The concert is being organized by the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, which promotes liturgical music and the restoration of church art.
The Vienna Philharmonic had planned to stage a concert at Notre Dame in 2021.
A Paris official says part of the support structure around Notre Dame Cathedral's rose windows is to be dismantled to prevent further damage following a massive fire.
The Culture Ministry's fire expert, Jose Vaz de Matos, told reporters that part of the triangular structure above the central rose window is to be taken down "to limit the movement" of the stone.
De Matos said the main risk to the cathedral is the gables above the rose windows, which provide crucial support to the stained glass masterpieces.
He said the structure is particularly exposed to the wind, and the overall structure remains fragile.
Police officials told The Associated Press that the triangular structure is leaning 20 centimeters forward toward the street since the fire.
A Paris fire official says the towers of Notre Dame would have fallen if firefighters hadn't deployed massive equipment and acted swiftly.
Philippe Demay denied there was any delay and said firefighters acted as fast as they could.
Demay told reporters that the operation was extremely difficult and that the towers could have collapsed "if we hadn't put heavy equipment in place."
-AP
