Notre Dame Main Structure Saved, Emmanuel Macron Vows To Heal Heart Of Paris

The spire and roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral were reduced to ash due to the fire

Cathedral spokesman Andre Finot told reporters that the building had sustained "colossal damage" and that the medieval wooden interior was gutted

"I tell you solemnly tonight: We will rebuild this cathedral," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an address to the nation

The Notre Dame Cathedral had been undergoing a badly needed renovation after decades of deterioration due to pollution, acid rain and the ravages of time

Officials later confirmed that two of the cathedral's most precious relics survived the flames: a tunic worn by Saint Louis, a 13th-century French king, and the crown of thorns that Jesus Christ is said to have worn before his crucifixion.