Erdogan condemns 'immoral' Paris Olympics ceremony, plans to call Pope Francis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, calling it “immoral” and offensive to Christians. Erdogan announced plans to discuss the matter with Pope Francis, asserting that the ceremony was used to promote “perversion” and undermine Christian values.

The controversy centers on a segment of the ceremony that many observers interpreted as a reference to the Bible’s ‘Last Supper’. This scene included dancers, drag queens, and a DJ in poses that resembled those from the famous painting, leading to widespread criticism from various religious groups.

Earlier, Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church condemned the segment as ‘shameful’ and a mockery of Christianity. The church’s statement stated that the portrayal was offensive to both religious and human values. Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, expressed support for the French Church and its Assembly of Bishops.

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In Mosul, Archbishop Benedictus Younan Hanno of the Syriac Catholic Church urged his congregation to fast in protest, describing the depiction as a serious insult to both religion and humanity. He expressed surprise that such actions could come from France, a country known for its secularism and respect for diverse religions.

Thomas Jolly, the director of the opening ceremony, earlier denied that the segment was inspired by the ‘Last Supper’. Jolly explained that the intention was to create a grand celebration linked to ancient pagan gods. Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps also reiterated that there was no intention to disrespect any religious group and expressed regret if the ceremony caused offense.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) removed the video of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony from its YouTube channel following the backlash.

The French Catholic Church’s bishops labeled it a “mockery” of Christianity, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova supported this view. The Anglican Communion in Egypt also expressed concern, stating that the ceremony could damage the IOC’s reputation for promoting sports and humanitarian values.

In response to the controversy, C Spire, a major telecommunications company in the US, has withdrawn all of its advertisements from the Paris Olympics.

With inputs from agencies