Pope
Francis says there are limits to freedom of expression
(Vatican Radio) Speaking about the Paris terror attacks, Pope
Francis said on Thursday that there are limits to freedom of expression,
especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith. His comments
came during a wide-ranging press conference with journalists accompanying him
on his flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines to start the second and final
leg of his journey to Asia.
During the press
conference, Pope Francis was asked by a French journalist about the
relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression. He
replied saying that both are "fundamental human rights" and stressed
that killing in the name of God “is an aberration.”. But he said there were
limits to that freedom of expression. By way of example he referred to
Alberto Gasparri who organizes the papal trips and was standing by his side on
the plane. The Pope said if “his good friend Dr Gasparri” says a curse word
against his mother, he can “expect a punch”, and at that point he gestured with
a pretend punch towards him, saying: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You
cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of
others.”
Pope Francis also
spoke about climate change, saying he doesn’t know if human activity “is the
only cause” of this but added that it is “man who has slapped nature in the
face.” Humans, he went on, have “exploited nature too much” and he referred to
his forthcoming encyclical on ecology, saying he hopes the document will
encourage negotiators at a climate change meeting in Paris to make “courageous
decisions” to protect God’s creation.
During the press
conference, the Pope also spoke about his priorities for his pastoral visit to
the Philippines, saying the focus of his message will be the plight of the
poor, those who suffered during the 2013 typhoon and those who “face so many
injustices, social spiritual, existential.”
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