Vatican comments on controversial drag 'Last Supper' at 2024 Paris Olympics

The Vatican said 'freedom of expression . . . is limited by respect for others'

Published: August 4, 2024 4:37pm

The Vatican finally weighed in on the controversial drag "Last Supper" at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a statement on Saturday, the Vatican expressed sadness over the display that showed a lack of "respect for others."

On July 26, a controversial opening ceremony at the Olympics featured a Last Supper "with drag queens, a transgender model and singer dressed as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure," The New York Post reported.

"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 offense done to many Christians and believers of other religions," the Vatican statement read.

The statement offered qualified support for freedom of expression: "The freedom of expression, which is clearly not called into question here, is limited by respect for others."

Olympics organizers initially denied the Last Supper was the inspiration for the opening ceremony before reversing course and calling the display an attempt to "celebrate community tolerance."

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