"You cannot insult the faith of others"

oge okonkwo

January 15, 2015 4:54 PM

Francis said that while freedom of speech and expression are fundamental human rights, he believes there should be limits to offending and ridiculing the faiths and beliefs of others

Pope Francis has stated that there are limits to freedom of expression and it would be wrong to mock the faith of others.

The pontiff made the statement before he departed for the Philippines, where around 1,500 Muslims protested yesterday against the depictions of the 'crying Prophet' in satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Francis said that while freedom of speech and expression are fundamental human rights, he believes there should be limits to offending and ridiculing the faiths and beliefs of others.

Giving an example, he referred to Alberto Gasparri, who organises his trips and was standing by his side on board the papal plane.

“If my good friend Dr Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch,” Francis said while pretending to throw a punch in his direction.

He added: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”

Recently the Vatican and four prominent French imams issued a joint declaration that denounced the attack but urged media houses to give respect to different religions.

The pope urged Muslim leaders in particular to speak out against Islamic extremism and went a step further when asked by a French journalist about whether there were limits when freedom of expression meets freedom of religion.

Francis insisted that it was an “aberration” to kill in the name of God and said religion can never be used to justify violence.

But he said there was a limit to free speech when it concerned offending someone’s religious beliefs.

Many people around the world have defended the right of Charlie Hebdo to publish inflammatory cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in the wake of the massacre at its Paris offices and the following attack on a kosher supermarket, in which three gunmen killed 17 people in total.

But recently the Vatican and four prominent French imams issued a joint declaration that denounced the attacks but also urged the media to treat religions with respect.

Francis, who has urged Muslim leaders in particular to speak out against Islamic extremism, went a step further when asked by a French journalist about whether there were limits when freedom of expression meets freedom of religion.

Francis insisted that it was an “aberration” to kill in the name of God and said religion can never be used to justify violence.

oge okonkwo