Catholic leaders and various Christian groups expressed outrage after the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris featured a scene that many saw as a parody of Jesus’ Last Supper. Organizers have since apologized for the controversial scene, explaining that it was meant to represent the Greek gods at a banquet, not the Last Supper. The tableau included drag performers and French entertainers posing behind a long dining table, with a woman in an ornate silver halo in the center. Singer Philippe Katerine emerged painted blue on a silver platter adorned with grapes.
Before the creative director clarified the inspiration behind the scene, social media was abuzz with debates over its resemblance to paintings of Greek gods at Mount Olympus or Leonardo DaVinci’s Last Supper. Vatican officials, including Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, condemned the scene as insulting to the Eucharist and a derision of the Last Supper. The French bishops also spoke out against the mockery of Christianity, emphasizing the hurtful impact on Christians worldwide.
The special Holy See representative to the 2024 Olympics, Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard, expressed deep disappointment over the images from the opening ceremony. He criticized the lack of unity and respect in the display, contradicting the values of the Olympic Charter. Italian bishops lamented the exaggeration and exclusion of the ceremony scenes, highlighting the need for more sensitivity and understanding. The Middle East Council of Churches also called for respect and friendship in line with the Olympic values.
In the United States, Catholic bishops and prominent evangelicals criticized the representation at the Olympics as disrespectful and pornographic. Bishop Robert Barron urged Christians not to be passive in the face of such mockery, emphasizing the need to resist. Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler denounced the scene as a corruption of Christianity, linking it to a Babylonian vision. Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner condemned the display as a shameful mockery of the Christian faith, calling out the lack of tolerance in the portrayal.