Pope Francis spoke out on last week’s terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, suggesting there should be limits to freedom of expression, especially when dealing with insults to religion.
“If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch,” Francis said, according to numerous press reports. “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
The pope, who made the comments today during a mid-flight press conference en route to an official visit to the Philippines, was referring to Alberto Gasparri, his event scheduler, throwing a pretend punch his way.
Francis continued: “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. 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.”
Naturally, people from around the globe flocked to Twitter to react.
https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/555701373401309185
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/555731582087335936
https://twitter.com/AG_Conservative/status/555738579922866176
Pope Francis says you can't insult another person's religion. Pope Francis is wrong. http://t.co/yyFyNjtDeE
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/AmyOtto8/status/555714694376194048
Wow, the Pope went further than I did in criticizing #CharlieHebdo cartoons. Look forward to conservatives saying he's worse than ISIS, too.
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) January 15, 2015
I guess we can stop worrying about the Pope reauthorizing the Crusades http://t.co/OobTKeIdTi
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 15, 2015
Pope Francis, Islamic beliefs that inspire murder need to change. How can that happen w/o free speech? Anti Charlie Hebdo = pro status quo
— Philip Schuyler (@FiveRights) January 15, 2015
Cept when insulting Judaism and Christianity, pup. MT @DRUDGE_REPORT: POPE: There are limits to free expression… http://t.co/7LZPjXbKSG
— Lane Violator Deetz (@tahDeetz) January 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/ggiittiikkaa/status/555790839323295744
Pope "defends free speech" but says it's wrong to "provoke" people to violence by insulting their faith.
Which is it, @Pontifex?
— Lucy Wainwright (@Whoozley) January 15, 2015
Bill Donohue was wrong on free speech. The Pope is wrong too: http://t.co/0YoBaxRnI3
— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 15, 2015
Sorry, Holy Father @Pontifex – but you're so dangerously wrong about free speech > http://t.co/5LXAah7wV6
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 15, 2015
If the Pope is horribly wrong on economics and free speech, why does he have an authority on matters of faith?
— CJ Mordock (@CJMordock) January 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/MarkGSparrow/status/555769952146587648
I concur with the Pope on the issue of free speech.
— indranil sinharoy (@indranil_leo) January 15, 2015
@CBSNews Aaaaaaaand respect for Pope gone. Free speech never goes too far. No one ever has to agree with anyone. Just use common sense.
— SSgt Badonkadonk (@Sierra0052) January 15, 2015
In wake of Charlie Hebdo attack, Pope Francis says "there is a limit to free speech. Yes Mr Pope, you didn't have to say to this.
— MusicDrinker (@MusicDrinker) January 15, 2015
“Far be it from me to disagree with the pope,” says Josh Earnest about Pope Francis’ remarks about free speech and religion
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/SchembriKarl/status/555795900917096449
I liked the new #Pope and then he says free speech shouldn't include religious insult. To that I say stick it in your funny looking hat, sir
— Ethan Bailey (@ebai_today) January 15, 2015