VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said on Saturday (Aug 3) it had been saddened by a skit at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony appearing to parody Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper painting.

"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," it said in an unusual weekend evening press release issued in French.

The segment in the July 26 ceremony resembled the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion, but featured drag queens, a transgender model and a naked singer as the Greek god of wine Dionysus.

Paris 2024 organisers apologised two days later, saying there was never an intention to disrespect any religious group.

The artistic director behind the scene said it had not been inspired by the Christian last supper, but rather a pagan feast linked to the historical Olympics.

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