The Vatican expressed its sadness regarding a skit from the Paris Olympics opening ceremony that appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” In a rare evening press release issued in French, the Holy See stated, “The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot but join the voices raised in recent days to deplore the offence done to many Christians and believers of other religions.”

The segment from the July 26 ceremony depicted a scene resembling the biblical moment of Jesus Christ and his apostles at their final meal before the crucifixion, featuring drag queens, a transgender model, and a naked performer portraying the Greek god of wine, Dionysus.

Organizers of Paris 2024 issued an apology two days later, clarifying that there was no intention to disrespect any religious group. The artistic director of the segment explained that it was not inspired by the Christian Last Supper but rather a pagan feast associated with the historical Olympics.

The Vatican emphasized that in a prestigious event that unites the world around shared values, there should be no references that ridicule the religious beliefs of many. “Freedom of expression, which is obviously not called into question, finds its limit in respect for others,” they stated.

The Vatican did not specify why it took over a week to issue its statement following the opening ceremony. On August 1, Pope Francis spoke on the phone with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, during which they reportedly discussed the Paris event. While the Vatican later confirmed the call took place, it did not provide details on the content of their discussion.

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