Simone Biles' performance at the Olympics was almost ethereal: Bishop Robert Barron.

Bishop Robert Barron viewed Simone Biles' latest gold medal performance as a "sacred" display of athletic beauty.

At the Paris Olympic Games on Thursday, Biles secured her place as the greatest U.S. female gymnast of all time with a gold medal in the all-around competition.

Michael Jordan's heyday was reminiscent of Simone Biles' display of grace and athleticism, said Barron, the head of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and a widely followed Catholic influencer.

"Watching Simone Biles last night was incredible, and her performance was nothing short of amazing," he said to Planet Chronicle Digital. "She's the greatest of all time, and it reminded me of watching Michael Jordan when I was younger. Jordan was surrounded by great players, but he was something else. Simone is the same way. She's with the best gymnasts in the world, but when she performs, it's at a level of excellence that's truly remarkable."

Barron compared her performance to the Olympics of ancient Greece, where athletic achievement was celebrated, and emphasized the beauty of sports as a pursuit of excellence for its own sake.

He stated that he was not watching Simone Biles to achieve anything else, but rather to appreciate the beauty of her performance. As a religious individual, he considered it a reflection of the divine and a sacred moment.

"When you're at a baseball game, you contemplate the beauty of the performance. This contemplation is what makes the experience so mystical and wonderful. It's why the Olympics emerged long ago and continue to hold our attention today."

Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics competition at the 2021 Tokyo Games, overcoming a difficult journey that included withdrawing from the all-around final due to "the twisties" and discussing the criticism and support she received for going public with her struggles.

Once again, Americans were proud to see one of their own win gold as her performance captivated the audience.

"According to Barron, the purpose of the Olympic Games is to unite nations of the world, as it is a beautiful quality that brings people together. This is similar to how great works of art, religious celebrations, and athletic performances have a unifying effect."

In Paris, Biles and her American teammate Suni Lee were ecstatic as they waved to the crowd after winning a gold medal for their team. Lee had also earned a bronze in the all-around competition, and the pair celebrated their success together.

The floor exercise, balance beam, and vault finals are still to come, giving Biles a chance to increase her nine career Olympic medals.

Barron gained notoriety for his critique of the mockery of the Last Supper during the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies, where he expressed his disappointment at the depiction of it with drag queens, emphasizing its importance to Christianity.