French opposition leader criticizes 'mockery of Christian Last Supper' at Paris Olympics

ANKARA

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI), disapproved of the mockery of the Christian Last Supper, the final meal of Christ and his disciples, at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

In a blog post on Saturday, Melenchon disapproved of the parody involving drag queens reenacting Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper with Jesus and his apostles, describing it as "mockery of the Christian Last Supper."

"I didn't appreciate the mockery of the Christian Last Supper, the final meal of Christ and his disciples, which is foundational to Sunday worship. Of course, I'm not getting into the criticism of 'blasphemy.' That doesn't concern everyone.

"But I ask: what's the point of risking offending believers? Even when one is anticlerical! We were speaking to the world that evening. Among the billion Christians in the world, how many good and honest people are there for whom faith provides help in living and knowing how to participate in everyone's life, without bothering anyone?" he said.

He said there were "a few things that were not so good," specifically criticizing the depiction of the last queen of France Marie-Antoinette's severed head seen through a window of the Conciergerie Castle. The last queen of France was executed by guillotine in 1793.

Melenchon also lauded the "courage" and "rebellious spirit" of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony designed by French actor Thomas Jolly, adding that it will be a performance "no one will forget."

Melenchon also addressed the presence of Palestinian athletes and the reception they received as they passed along the Seine.

Listing the elements that constitute, in his opinion, "the best" of this event, he said the Palestinian team was cheered under the eyes of Israeli President Herzog, the man who signs bombs of genocide in Gaza.