Vatican unhappy with Olympic 'Last Supper' parody

Saddened by 'Last Supper' skit, Holy See stressing the importance of respecting diverse religious beliefs

VATICAN CITY:

The Vatican expressed its disappointment on Saturday over a skit featured in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony that seemed to parody Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."

In an unusual weekend press release issued in French, the Holy See stated its sadness over scenes from the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, which took place on July 26. The Vatican joined voices criticizing the segment for offending many Christians and believers of other faiths.

The controversial segment portrayed a scene resembling the biblical depiction of Jesus Christ's last meal with his apostles before his crucifixion. The skit included drag queens, a transgender model, and a naked singer dressed as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

Paris 2024 organisers apologised two days after the event, emphasising that there was no intention to offend any religious group. The artistic director of the ceremony stated that the scene was inspired not by the Christian "Last Supper" but by a pagan feast related to the historical Olympics.

The Vatican highlighted that in a prestigious event promoting global unity and shared values, there should be no allusions that mock religious beliefs. It stressed that while freedom of expression is important, it should be balanced with respect for others.

The Vatican did not explain the timing of its statement, which came more than a week after the ceremony. Pope Francis reportedly discussed the Paris event with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a phone call on August 1.