'THE Passion of the Christ' producer Mel Gibson fumed: 'That — the Olympic ceremony in France — mocked my faith.' Renowned online preacher Bishop Robert Barron joined countless Christian leaders and faithful in denouncing performers seen as mocking Jesus Christ's Last Supper in Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece.

French Catholic bishops, whose nation was the first in medieval Europe to become Christian, acknowledged: 'The opening ceremony offered the world wonderful moments of beauty, joy, rich emotions and universal acclaim [but] included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply deplore.'