Popsugar News Fire Crowds Sing "Ave Maria" Outside Notre-Dame Cathedral Crowds Sang "Ave Maria" Together as the Notre-Dame Cathedral Burned 16 April 2019 by Karenna Meredith Ave Maria pic.twitter.com/lb6Y5XV05a— Ignacio Gil (@Inaki_Gil) April 15, 2019 The devastation and heartbreak of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire on April 15 could be felt through the reaction of the surrounding crowd in Paris. As the historic landmark burned, witnesses looked on in helpless disbelief as the cathedral's spire and roof collapsed — although its main structure has been preserved. Yet, in the midst of such a tragic loss, the strangers surrounding Notre-Dame joined each other in prayer and song, adding beauty to the otherwise painful damage. Twitter users gathered clips of the crowd singing "Ave Maria" together in French as they watched the structure flame. The videos quickly went viral, with viewers commenting that the song is both "so beautiful and sad at the same time" and that they can "feel their pain but hear their love." According to the Paris police, the fire is now contained. The original cause still remains unknown. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked firefighters for their tireless efforts, and said, "Thanks to their bravery, the worst has been avoided." The view from St Michele. As night falls, a group of people are singing while everyone else is taking photos and watch in shock. All feels eerie. #NotreDame #notredamedeparis pic.twitter.com/f5HAwGkmWN— Andrei Popoviciu (@AndreiPopoviciu) April 15, 2019 1 / 8 #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/lkKHs5FBnm— Andrei Popoviciu (@AndreiPopoviciu) April 15, 2019 2 / 8 My brother @HinmanLabUCLA sends along this super sad video of Parisians holding hands, kneeling in prayer and singing together as they watch Notre Dame burning. pic.twitter.com/qoTYLyCMaE— Katie Hinman (@khinman) April 15, 2019 3 / 8 Many people are singing songs.Notre Dame CathedralThe place had a very sacred atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/owmswAnZ25— KAZUKI (@KazukiNakane) April 15, 2019 4 / 8 #NotreDameCathedral: 'Below me there are lots of people gathered singing Ave Maria, singing catholic hymns, trying to bring some kind of unity'@markowenf24 reporting live from the scene pic.twitter.com/ebnPzUM0uV— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 15, 2019 5 / 8 Some lining the sides of Seine and watching eastward. Other singing softly in distance #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/Twbcwzf43K— Christopher Kozal Brennan (@CKozalBrennan) April 15, 2019 6 / 8 It's a very moving moment here in #NotreDame. People are still singing the Hail Mary choir in disbelief. No other words can be uttered at this tragic event. #NotreDameFire #NotreDameDeParis pic.twitter.com/726QXBeWHO— Alexander Durie (@alexander_durie) April 15, 2019 7 / 8 Ave Maria pic.twitter.com/lb6Y5XV05a— Ignacio Gil (@Inaki_Gil) April 15, 2019 8 / 8 FireWorld NewsParis