Pope Francis stressed there must be limits to free speech when it comes to religion, saying that anyone who insults a religion can expect “a punch in the nose”.
Pope Francis stressed there must be limits to free speech when it comes to religion, saying that anyone who insults a religion can expect “a punch in the nose”.
In the remarks he made to journalists on board his official plane as he flew from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, the two stops on his week-long visit to Asia, referring to the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris last week, the Pope said that freedom of expression had its limits, especially if it involved insulting or ridiculing religion.
Gesturing towards Alberto Gasparri, a Vatican official who organises pontifical trips and who was standing next to him on board the plane, he said: "If my good friend Dr Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch in the nose."
"It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others."
The Pope did not refer specifically to the magazine but said that insulting religions was unacceptable and dangerous.
"There are so many people who speak badly about religions or other religions, who make fun of them, who make a game out of the religions of others," he said.
"They are provocateurs. And what happens to them is what would happen to Dr Gasparri if he says a curse word against my mother. There is a limit," he reiterated.
Moreover, the Pope said that violence carried out in God’s name was "an aberration."
"One cannot make war [or] kill in the name of one’s own religion, that is, in the name of God."
"But those who ridiculed another religion should expect some sort of reaction," he stated.
The Pope received a rapturous welcome after touching down in Manila, with hundreds of thousands of people crowding the road from the airport to the city center to see him pass by in a Popemobile.
Millions of Filipinos are expected to turn out to see him during the five-day trip to the heartland of Catholicism in Asia.
