Vatican criticizes "blasphemous mockery" at Olympia-Party
The Olympic Summer Games in Paris are opened with an opulent ceremony on the Seine. As expected, the spectacular show has drawn criticism. The Vatican has expressed criticism towards the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris. During the nearly four-hour show, issues of equality, brotherhood, and respect were addressed. "This lofty ideal was tarnished by a blasphemous desecration of one of the holiest moments of Christianity," said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, a Catholic Church institution for ethical questions. Paglia expressed his criticism in an interview with the newspaper "Il Giornale."
The Vatican is not the only one to have criticized the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris. At issue was a scene that referenced Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper," which depicts Jesus Christ and his apostles. However, during the Olympic opening ceremony, the apostles were portrayed by drag queens, a transgender model, and a nearly naked singer.
Before Paglia, other church leaders had already expressed their displeasure, including the French Bishops' Conference. Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau, responsible for sports in the German Bishops' Conference, wrote in X that the ceremony was a "queer Last Supper" that was a "low point and utterly over the top" in its staging. Conservatives and far-right politicians in France also voiced criticism, as did the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The organizers dismissed the criticism and referred to artistic freedom. Tony Estanguet, the organizer, stated that the show was intended to provoke thought and had been coordinated with the IOC. "Our intention was never to be offensive," said the director of the opening ceremony, Thomas Jolly. "Artistic creation is free in France." The idea was to be inclusive, which means not excluding anyone.
The International Olympic Committee, aware of the criticisms, affirmed their support for the creative liberty of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. Despite the Vatican's criticism, the IOC believes in the importance of promoting inclusivity and diversity through artistic expression in the opening ceremony.
