In response to the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, in which the Last Supper was mocked, and after French bishops and other Catholic leaders from various parts of the world criticized the show, the Vatican issued a statement this Saturday, August 3.
In a brief statement emailed to reporters in French, the Holy See said it was “saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot help but join the voices that have been raised in the last days to deplore the offense done to many Christians and believers of other religions.”
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“At a prestigious event where everyone stands around common values, there should be no allusions ridiculing the religious convictions of many people,” the statement continued.
The controversial scene, part of the 1.5 billion euro (about 1.62 billion US dollars) spectacle to kick off the 2024 Summer Olympics, featured drag queens to portray the apostles and a self-proclaimed lesbian DJ like Jesus, in what appeared to be part of a fashion show, apparently mocking Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting.
“Freedom of expression, which, of course, is not questioned, finds its limit while respecting others,” the Holy See concluded.
Saturday’s statement comes after an open letter issued by Catholic cardinals and bishops around the world on Friday calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to “repudiate” and “apologize” for the “intentionally hateful mockery” of the Last Supper.
In the letter, signed by three cardinals and 24 bishops, the prelates stated: “It is difficult to understand how the faith of more than 2 billion people can be so casually and intentionally blasphemed.”
The signatories, led by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke; Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM; and Cardinal Berhaneyesus DeMerew Souraphiel, CM; He also asked for “a day of prayer and fasting in reparation for this blasphemy.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Tina Dennelly
Tina Dennelly is Senior Copy Editor at Catholic News Agency. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has more than 25 years of experience writing and editing for Catholic newspapers, magazines, books and other media.