In a long-awaited move, the Vatican has finally weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding a controversial segment from the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, issuing a rare weekend press release expressing disappointment over what many perceived as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic “The Last Supper” painting.
The statement, released Saturday evening in French reported by Reuters, marked an unusual step for the Holy See, which typically refrains from commenting on cultural events outside of official channels.
“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 Vatican said.
The controversy stems from a segment in the July 26 ceremony that featured a tableau reminiscent of the biblical scene depicting Jesus Christ’s last meal with his apostles. However, the Olympic interpretation included drag …