Vatican criticizes Olympic ceremony for religious insensitivity

The echoes from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games are still resounding. It continues to spark many controversies. Now, the Church has addressed this topic. The Vatican has issued an official statement.

The Vatican regretted certain events during the Paris Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony. Saturday's statement expressed an offence taken by many Christians and followers of other religions.

The statement provided to journalists on Saturday evening emphasized: "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."

"In a prestigious event where the whole world comes together around common values, there should not be allusions ridiculing the religious convictions of many people," the Vatican stated.

It was noted that "Freedom of expression, which is obviously not called into question, finds its limit in respect for others."

The statement did not clarify what "certain scenes" were meant. Following the inauguration ceremony on 26 July, controversy and numerous protests mainly concerned a scene considered an offensive reference to Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The author of the Paris performance later explained that the painting was not his inspiration.

The statement did not specify what "certain scenes" were meant. Recall that controversy and numerous protests erupted after the opening ceremony on 26 July, primarily concerned a scene seen as offensive allusions to Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The author of the ceremony in Paris later stated that the painting was not his inspiration.