The Holy See Responds to Olympics Opening Ceremony Controversy
Fallout from the “Last Supper” scene during the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics spilled over into a second week after bishops from around the world — and even the Vatican — issued statements calling out the display as offensive to Christians.
Bishops and prominent prelates from across the globe joined the French Bishops’ Conference and U.S. bishops in criticizing the July 26 ceremony, calling it a deplorable depiction of Christianity.
That statement on Friday was followed by one the next day by the Vatican.
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“The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games” the statement read, “and can only 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 added: “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.”
To critics, the scene evoked Jesus and his apostles in Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper.” The display featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch, a self-proclaimed lesbian, wearing a silver headdress that looked like a halo, flanked by dancers in drag.
The ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, denied he had been inspired by the “Last Supper,” saying the scene was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.
A Vatican spokesman, in response to a query by The Associated Press, did not respond when asked why the Holy See had waited more than a week to respond to the controversy.
The Last Supper is the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper is commemorated by Christians on Holy Thursday and provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist.
Following the initial fallout, Paris 2024 organizers had said the performance was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus” to make the world “aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.” Nonetheless, organizers eventually apologized to anyone who was offended by the tableau.
The ceremony was viewed by a worldwide audience of millions. It served as the official start of the Summer Games, which will conclude on Aug. 11.
The performance also came less than a week after Notre Dame Cathedral reopened after a 2019 fire had destroyed the spire and much of its interior.
In the letter sent by the bishops on Friday, the signatories decried “with shock” how the world had wateched the ceremony “with a grotesque and blasphemous depiction of the Last Supper.”
The prelates who signed the letter included Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier and Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel.
The letter demanded that the International Olympic Commitee “repudiate this blasphemous action and apologize to all people of faith.”
The IOC did not immediately respond to the letter signed by the bishops.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.