The Vatican has issued a delayed response following the Olympics opening ceremony – saying it is “saddened” by a skit that appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting.
Last Friday’s Paris event included a scene featuring what seemed to be a recreation of the famous painting with drag queens, a transgender model and a near-naked singer in the place of Jesus Christ and his apostles.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the Vatican said: “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.”
“Freedom of expression, which is obviously not called into question, finds its limit in respect for others,” it added.
The Vatican has not said why it has taken over a week to issue a statement.
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Pope Francis had a call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday and the latter said the two leaders discussed the opening ceremony.
The Paris 2024 organisers apologised for the scene two days after the opening ceremony while the artistic director behind it has repeatedly said he was not inspired by Da Vinci’s biblical painting.
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A drag queen preparing to perform on a Paris bridge at the opening ceremony. Pic: AP
Thomas Jolly has instead said he was paying tribute to a pagan feast linked to historical Olympics, and the near-naked singer at the table was a representation of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity.
He has faced death threats and online attacks over the skit, the Paris Prosecutor’s office said on Friday.
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French DJ and producer Barbara Butch, who appeared in the scene, has also filed a complaint after suffering “an extremely violent campaign” in the days since.
Butch has been threatened with “death, torture, and rape, and has also been the target of numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist and grossophobic insults [stigma based on body size],” her lawyer said.
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