Holy See Press Office issues milquetoast statement after eight days of silence
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After more than a week of silence, the Vatican has published a mild denunciation of the blasphemous opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, following pressure from Turkey's Muslim president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On Saturday, the Holy See Press Office issued a brief press statement in French noting that "the Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics Games ..."
The 90-word statement, which was unsigned and did not carry the name of Pope Francis or the Secretary of State Cdl. Pietro Parolin, said the Vatican "... can only join the voices that have been raised in recent days to deplore the offence caused to many Christians and believers of other religions."
"Seeing the rising tide of Islamic outrage over the Olympic tableau, Francis may have felt it was more important to signal solidarity than to indulge his own preferences."
The ambiguously-worded press release did not specify what scenes were offensive nor did it condemn the opening ceremony for blasphemously parodying the depiction of the Holy Eucharist as visualized in Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper.
"In a prestigious event where the whole world gathers around common values, there should be no allusions that ridicule the religious convictions of many people," the statement noted. "Freedom of expression, which of course is not in question, finds its limit in respect for others."
SHIA IRAN PROTESTS OLYMPIC ORGY
The statement comes eight days after the opening ceremony sparked a wave of international backlash and strongly-worded protests by Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican bishops. The largest coalition of Protestant churches in South Korea held public protests against the orgiastic event.
America's largest privately-held wireless company, C Spire, pulled its advertising from the Games, announcing that it would "not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper."
"I will call on Pope Francis at the earliest about this issue."
Two days after the event, the Shia Muslim leadership of Iran denounced the "insulting representation of Jesus Christ," saying it was "completely offensive" and had "crossed all red lines." The French ambassador was summoned to Tehran and told: "France, a country with a major history of Christianity, must be ashamed of itself … We resolutely condemn this."
Catholics around the world urged Pope Francis to issue a condemnation, but the pontiff maintained a diplomatic silence; instead commending the Olympics for its ability "to dismantle prejudices" and "foster esteem where there is contempt and mistrust."
ISLAMIC LEADER COMPELS FRANCIS TO DENOUNCE BLASPHEMY
However, the pontiff was compelled to ask the Holy See Press Office to issue a denunciation of the opening ceremony after President Erdoğan told members of his ruling AK Party that he would call Pope Francis to speak out against the "disgusting" scene at the Olympics.
"What was sought to be achieved in Paris was to implement a project aimed at reducing humans, the most honorable of the created, to a level even below animals," Erdoğan said, according to a statement published on the president of Turkey's website.
"I will call on Pope Francis at the earliest about this issue. I will talk to him about the immorality committed against the Christian world and all Christians," Erdoğan emphasized.
"The disgraceful scene in Paris offended not only the Catholic world, not only the Christian world, but also us as much as them."
"The Olympics have been used as a tool for perversion that debilitates the human nature, undermines the family, and endangers the survival of generations," he stated. "Children, our most innocent beings, have been disgustingly targeted by using the Olympics' international influence."
"The disgraceful scene in Paris offended not only the Catholic world, not only the Christian world, but also us as much as them," Erdoğan, who is committed to a form of radical Islam, maintained.
Erdoğan said he decided not to participate in the Paris Olympics even though French President Emmanuel Macron had invited him: "I said I could go. But my 13-year-old niece told me not to go ... that they would organize an LGBT show there."
FRANCIS INFLUENCED BY ISLAMIC OUTRAGE
Commenting on the press bulletin, John Allen, Vatican correspondent for Crux, explained:
"The Vatican statement came out at 7:47 p.m. on a Saturday night, which is an unusual hour for a communiqué on anything other than an emergency. This clearly didn't qualify, since the ceremony in question took place a full eight days before. The Vatican had plenty of chances to comment in a more typical fashion, including the pope's own Sunday Angelus address the week before."
"Seeing the rising tide of Islamic outrage over the Olympic tableau, Francis may have felt it was more important to signal solidarity than to indulge his own preferences," Allen wrote.
POPE'S SILENCE ON HAGIA SOPHIA
Ironically, in July 2020, Francis refused to condemn Erdoğan after the radical Muslim president ordered Hagia Sophia, the world's grandest Byzantine basilica, to be turned into a mosque.
Days later, Francis broke his silence at the end of his Angelus address on Sunday July 12 to deliver a non-condemnation of Islam's takeover of Hagia Sophia in just six words: "I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very saddened."
"I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very saddened."
"The unjustified silence of the Holy See and personally of Pope Francis on the burning issue of the conversion of the emblematic church of Hagia Sophia into a mosque causes concern and sadness in the Christian world," the Orthodox Times earlier noted in a scorching editorial.
"At a time when the whole world, both religiously and politically and academically, has taken a clear stand against Turkey's intention to once again defile the temple of the Wisdom of God, the loquacious and ever-sensitive bishop of Rome is… silent," it remonstrated.
Editor's note: To learn how Catholicism prevented Islam from taking over Europe, check out our book selection by clicking here.
Dr. Jules Gomes, (BA, BD, MTh, PhD), has a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Cambridge. Currently a Vatican-accredited journalist based in Rome, he is the author of five books and several academic articles. Gomes lectured at Catholic and Protestant seminaries and universities and was canon theologian and artistic director at Liverpool Cathedral.
He maintained a diplomatic silence, like a wife who watches her husband beat and assault their children.
It's official. The Pope is on record for having feelings. Make an announcement; strike up the big brass band. Armenians and people being treated by psychiatrists, drug pushers, virus makers, climate control enthusiasts and electroshock machines (ECT, it's therapy, remember) have reason for hope. The Pope has feelings. Let the happy news be spread. The wicked old witch at last is dead.
Aw, Dey made da pope sad. :(
That's why these freaks did it; acknowleging the fact makes THEM happy.