Despite the Paris 2024 Olympic Games nearing their conclusion, the opening event continues to stir significant controversy due to certain segments that offended many.
The International Olympic Committee faced heavy criticism for a part of the ceremony titled “Festivity.” Thousands of people felt that this segment mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, “The Last Supper.” Now, the Vatican has joined those defending Christianity.
The Vatican Criticizes Paris 2024
In an official statement, the Vatican expressed sadness over some scenes from the opening ceremony. They joined others in deploring the offense caused to many Christians and believers of other religions. The Vatican emphasized that “a prestigious event in which the whole world comes together to share common values should not include ridiculous allusions to religion.”
Read also: French DJ Barbara Butch Files Complaint After Harassment Over Olympic Performance
“The Holy See, saddened by some scenes of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, cannot but join the voices that have been raised in recent days to deplore the offense caused to many Christians and believers of other religions,” the statement read.
The Vatican noted that “freedom of expression, which is obviously not questioned, is only limited by respect for others.” French bishops and other members of the Catholic Church had already criticized the performance titled “Feast,” which seemed to recreate the Last Supper with drag queens, a trans model, and singer Philippe Katerine, who according to some people, appeared with attributes of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and partying.
Even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited Pope Francis to express a united stance against scenes that he believed “ridicule moral and religious values and trample on human honor under the guise of freedom of expression and tolerance.”
What Happened at the Paris 2024 Opening?
The Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee has publicly apologized to anyone offended by the sequence evoking “The Last Supper” during the opening ceremony. However, they also defended the concept created by Thomas Jolly.
The scene during the ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon, surrounded by drag performers and dancers, resembling the famous depiction of Jesus Christ with his apostles. Religious sectors worldwide denounced this image as a mockery of Christianity.
Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, distanced himself from any resemblance to the famous painting, stating it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay homage to French banquets and gastronomy. “My desire was not to be incendiary, or to mock or make an impact. I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion, and not divide at all,” he said.
Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the Paris 2024 Committee, explained that there was never any intention to disrespect any religious group. “On the contrary, I think that, together with Thomas Jolly, we really tried to celebrate tolerance. Looking at the results of the polls we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If anyone has been offended, of course, we are very sorry.”
