The Holy See has said it "deplores the
offense" caused to Christians by the opening ceremony of the
2024 Paris Olympics, a scene of which appeared to evoke Leonardo
da Vinci's The Last Supper featuring drag queens.
In a statement issued a week after the event, the Vatican on
Saturday said it "was saddened by certain scenes during the
opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games" and can "only join
the voices that have been raised in recent days to deplore the
offence caused to many Christians and believers of other
religions".
"At a prestigious event where the whole world comes together to
share common values, there should be no allusions ridiculing the
religious convictions of many people."
The Vatican went on to say that " freedom of expression is not
being called into question", but such freedom "is limited by
respect for others."
Although the ceremony's artistic director Thomas Jolly has
denied he had been inspired by da Vinci's painting, saying the
controversial scene aimed to celebrate diversity and French
gastronomy, critics claimed it represented Jesus and his
apostles in da Vinci's iconic work, featuring producer and
LGBTQ+ activist Barbara Butch with a silver headdress that
looked like a halo, with drag artists and dancers.
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