Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
-Protests in Paris by Christians over ‘Satanic’ Olympics opening ceremony.
-A worship service in Paris after the ‘blasphemous’ Olympics opening ceremony.
Fact
-Old video showing an annual celebration in Lourdes.
-Video predates the Olympics opening ceremony.
The Paris Olympics has landed into a controversy over a performance during its opening ceremony showing drag queens at a table, which is facing massive outrage over its resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting. Following the backlash, the International Olympic Committee issued an apology, stating, “there was never any intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief.”
Now, multiple videos allegedly showing protests by the Christian community members in Paris against the “Satanic” and “blasphemous” Olympics opening ceremony have gone viral on social media platforms. Newschecker, however, found that two such videos were shared in a false context.
Video 1
Several social media users shared a video claiming to showa candlelight vigil against the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Paris. “Christians in Paris take to the streets in protest to the Paris Olympics openly Satanic opening ceremony!!,” users sharing the footage alleged.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to a Facebook post by @catholicdaily, dated August 15, 2022. Carrying the same footage, the post stated, “Happy Feast of the Assumption everyone from Lourdes with crowd beautifully chanting ‘Ave Maria’(sic)“ Notably, Lourdes is a French town.
The comparisons between the keyframes of the viral clip and the Facebook video by @catholicdaily can be seen below.
We then looked up keywords “Lourdes,” “Ave Maria,” and “Assumption” on Google which yielded a Facebook post by @shalomworldnews, dated August 17, 2022, displaying a similar clip. The post further corroborated that the video shows, “Catholic faithful singing Ave Maria at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
Furthermore, the video was also shared on the official X account of the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes) in August 2022. “Beautiful and happy Assumption Day to all. In union of prayer with all the Catholics of the world. May the Virgin Mary shine in your hearts, (translated from French via Google)” its caption stated.
“August 15, a religious holiday for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and a public holiday in some countries, celebrates the elevation of the Virgin Mary into heaven, (translated from French via Google)” stated the website associated with the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes.
It further added, “The Holy Scriptures of Christianity say little about how the Mother of Christ left her earthly life, but a tradition was established in the early centuries of the Church in Jerusalem – always on this date of August 15 – to celebrate the “dormition” of the Virgin. This term of “dormition” of the Virgin signifies her mysterious falling asleep in death and her ascension, according to the Christian faith, body and soul, to heaven.”
Hence, an annual observance of the Assumption Day in France’s Lourdes has been falsely shared to show a protest in France against the “Satanic” opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Video 2
A 25-second-long-video showing a massive gathering near the Eiffel Tower is going viral on social media platforms. Those sharing the clip claimed that it shows a “worship service praising” Lord Jesus in Paris “after the satanic and blasphemous Olympics Opening Ceremony. “
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we could notice the watermark of Instagram handle “@jeanluctrachsel.ministries” displayed in the clip.
Taking a clue, we skimmed through the Instagram profile and found that the viral footage was shared on the platform on May 25, 2024. “Right now in Paris… at the Eiffel Tower bringing Jesus to this city,” the caption stated.
The viral video was also shared on their Facebook page in May 2024.
Notably, the Olympic Games opening ceremony was held on July 26, 2024.
Similar visuals of the event were also shared on the Instagram handle of ‘March For Jesus France’ – “annual non-institutional Christian event in terms of public impact at the national level” – in May 2024.
Detailing the event, an Evangelical Focus article stated, “Thousands of people took the streets of the French cities of Paris, Lille, Nantes, Metz and Strasbourg, on Saturday 25 May, for the March for Jesus (MPJ) 2024.”
Adding, “The march in Paris reached the record of participation in the country with 21,000 people, many of them young people, which, according to the head of the MPJ France federation board and vice-chair of the MPJ Paris committee, pastor André Raoilison, “illustrates the success of the event”. “
Hence, a months old video has been falsely shared to protest in Paris against the Olympic opening ceremony.
Also Read: No, Viral Video Does Not Show Lighting Of Olympic Torch At A Paris Church
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that old and unrelated videos have been shared to show protests in Paris against the Olympics opening ceremony.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @catholicdaily, Dated August 15, 2022
X Post By @lourdes_france, Dated August 15, 2022
Instagram Post By @jeanluctrachsel.ministries, Dated May 25, 2024
Facebook Post By @jeanluctrachsel.ministries, Dated May 25, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
