Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 01:41 pm
On Saturday, the Vatican conveyed its outrage over a sketch that was held at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, what it termed a grotesque parody of the famous biblical scene where Jesus Christ sat down to dine with his apostles in what is called the Last Supper. The respective skit also included performances by drag queens, a transgender model, and a naked singer playing Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
Apology by the Organizers
Organizers of Paris 2024 apologized two days later, saying there had been no intended slight to any religious group. The artistic director said the segment was not inspired by the Christian Last Supper but a pagan feast with some relation to the historical Olympics.
Respect Be Called For
“In an event with the participation of the whole world sharing common values, there shouldn’t be any allusions that ridiculed the religious conviction of many people,” the Vatican further added, stressing respect for religious beliefs in international events.
Related Developments
Pope Francis called Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on August 1, where both men discussed the Paris event. The Vatican would confirm the call but would not comment on any details about it.
The Vatican said in a statement that there is a certain balance that has been found in such global-scale events like the Olympics, between free speech and respect for religious belief.