- Title: FRANCE-SHOOTING/POPE Pope says: "you cannot make fun of faith"
- Date: 16th January 2015
- Summary: ON THE PAPAL PLANE FROM SRI LANKA TO PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 15, 2015) (REUTERS) CLOUDS FILMED FROM PAPAL PLANE POPE FRANCIS ARRIVING TO SPEAK TO MEDIA ON PAPAL PLANE POPE SAYING HELLO TO JOURNALISTS POPE LOOKING AT JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING: "I believe you cannot react violently, but if Mr. Gasparri, my great friend, says a curse word against my mother he can expect a punch, this is normal. You cannot provoke, you cannot insult other people's faiths, you cannot make fun of faith." JOURNALIST FILMING POPE ON PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING: "Many people who speak badly about other religions, or religion, who make fun of them, make other people's religions a joke, well, that is a provocation and what things can happen like that which could happen to Mr. Gasparri if he insulted my mother. There is a limit, every religion has dignity, every religion that respects people." POPE IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING: "That what happened now (Paris) we find it incredible, but let's look at our own history how many wars of religion have we had?" POPE IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS POPE FRANCIS IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS SAYING: "This person gives their life but they give it in a bad way. Many people, many people who work and I think of missionaries for example, they give their life but to construct. These people give their lives, killing themselves and destroying. There is something here that is not right." POPE FRANCIS LOOKING AT JOURNALISTS CLOSE OF POPE FRANCIS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING: "I do worry about the pilgrims, I worry about them. I have spoken to the Vatican security about this. Mr. Gianni (Head of Security) is employed to worry about these things and he keeps me up to date about these things. This worries me, it worries me quite a bit. Am I afraid? I am afraid but you know that I have a defect, a nice dose of being careless. If anything should happen to me, I have told the Lord, I ask you only to give me the grace that it doesn't hurt because I am not courageous when confronted with pain. I am very timid but it is in the hands of the Lord and I know my security department have it in hand and take prudent but correct measures. We will have to see." CAMERAMAN FILMING IN PLANE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING: "I think both are fundamental human rights, the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression. You cannot .. well are you French, let's go to Paris - lets speak clearly." POPE FRANCIS DRINKING WATER POPE FRANCIS SPEAKING PLANE FLYING THROUGH CLOUDS POPE FRANCIS WAVING GOODBYE AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 31st January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA59HAHFV28T4AZMJSZ8RKRQLZY
- Story Text: Pope Francis, speaking of last week's deadly attacks by Islamist militants in Paris, on Thursday (January 15) defended freedom of expression, but said it was wrong to provoke others by insulting their religion and that one could "expect" a reaction to such abuse.
"You can't provoke, you can't insult the faith of others, you can't make fun of faith," he told reporters on Thursday (January 15), aboard a plane taking him from Sri Lanka to the Philippines to start the second leg off his Asian tour.
Francis, who has condemned the Paris attacks, said that both religion and freedom of expression were fundamental human rights but said that freedom of expression should not offend.
To illustrate his point, he turned to an aide and said: "It is true that you must not react violently, but although we are good friends if Mr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch, it's normal.
"Many people who speak badly about other religions, or religion, who make fun of them, make other people's religions a joke well, that is a provocation and then things can happen like that which could happen to Mr. Gasparri if he insulted my mother. There is a limit, every religion has dignity, every religion that respects people."
Seventeen people, including journalists and police, were killed in three days of violence that began with a shooting attack on the political weekly Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions.
Referring to past religious wars, such as the Crusades sanctioned by the Catholic Church against Islam, the Pope said:
"Let's consider our own history. How many wars of religion have we had? Even we were sinners but you can't kill in the name of God. That is an aberration."
Pope Francis also gave his view on suicide bombing which is being used in many countries more prolifically as a sign of protest.
"This person gives their life but they give it in a bad way. Many people, many people who work and I think of missionaries for example, they give their life but to construct. These people give their lives, killing themselves and destroying. There is something here that is not right", he said.
The Pope was also asked if he felt vulnerable to an assassination attempt or an attack by Islamic extremists.
Earlier this week, the Vatican denied Italian newspaper reports that U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials had informed the Vatican that there could be an imminent attack by Islamist militants.
Francis said he was more worried about others - rather than himself - being hurt in an eventual attack and that he was confident about security measures in the Vatican and during his trips.
"I am in God's hands," he said, joking about having asked God to spare him a painful death.
"Am I afraid? You know that I have a defect, a nice dose of being careless. If anything should happen to me, I have told the Lord, I ask you only to give me the grace that it doesn't hurt because I am not courageous when confronted with pain. I am very timid," he said.
In closing , the pope spoke of human rights: "I think both are fundamental human rights, the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression. You cannot.. well are you French, let's go to Paris - lets speak clearly." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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