By OSV News
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress, spoke out July 27 against a "heinous" depiction of Leonardo Davinci's Last Supper at the Paris Olympic opening ceremonies. He issued a special call to prayer for the faithful based on his prayer at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress just one week prior. "Jesus experienced his Passion anew Friday night in Paris when his Last Supper was publicly defamed," he emphasized. "As his living body, we are invited to enter into this moment of passion with him, this moment of public shame, mockery and persecution. We do this through prayer and fasting. And our greatest prayer — in season and out of season — is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." He concluded with some advice to the faithful about discussing the incident, encouraging them to do so "with love and charity, but also with firmness."
The Diocese of Evansville joins religious leaders from around the world in expressing our regret and profound disappointment that elements of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Paris included provocative imagery of the Last Supper of Our Lord, an event sacred to all Christians. Whether intentional or not, the display was deeply hurtful and insulting to Catholics, who hold the Sacrament of the Eucharist given by Christ at the Last Supper to be the source and summit of our life of faith. The Olympic Games are meant to provide an opportunity for international unity and mutual respect. We pray that the true spirit of the Olympics may shine through over the coming days and help foster a greater sense of understanding and solidarity among nations, cultures and religions.
The French bishops also issued a statement July 27 condemning the mockery of Christianity at the opening of the Olympic Games. They praised the "marvelous display of beauty and joy" that was part of the ceremony but decried the "scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity."
The Message Staff contributed to this report.