Vatican expresses disappointment over specific scenes in Paris Olympics opening ceremony
The Vatican expressed its dismay over scenes featured in the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony last month, particularly regarding the apparent parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
In a statement issued in French, the Vatican expressed its sadness over certain segments of the opening ceremony that offended many Christians and believers of other religions.
The controversial segment in the ceremony seemed to depict the biblical scene of Jesus and the 12 apostles sharing their last meal before his crucifixion. However, the representation included drag queens, a transgender individual, and a naked singer portraying the Greek god Dionysus.
Following the ceremony, numerous Christian groups criticized the event, with about two-dozen bishops calling for a formal apology.
In its statement released on Saturday, the Vatican highlighted the importance of respecting religious beliefs and avoiding ridicule in prestigious events that bring people together around shared values.
One day after the opening ceremony, Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps clarified that there was no intention to disrespect any religious group and emphasized the celebration of community tolerance.
The International Olympic Committee later welcomed the clarification from the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee regarding the ceremony and stressed that their aim was not to offend anyone or show disrespect towards religious beliefs.
Call With Turkish President
Pope Francis had a phone conversation on Aug. 1 with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, where Erdogan expressed his concerns about the ceremony’s portrayal of “immoral displays” which he felt disrespected religious values.
Erdogan’s office criticized the ceremony for ridiculing religious and moral values and called for a unified stance against such actions.
The Vatican’s statement on Saturday came after a group of Catholic bishops worldwide demanded a more formal apology from the Olympics organizers for the depiction of “The Last Supper” in the opening ceremony.
These bishops condemned the ceremony’s portrayal as blasphemous and demanded an apology on behalf of Christians everywhere.
Reuters contributed to this report.
