MANILA: Pope Francis condemned on Thursday killing in God’s name but warned that religion could not be insulted, weighing into a global debate on free speech ahead of a rapturous welcome in the Philippines.

The pontiff made the comments to reporters as he flew from Sri Lanka to begin a five-day visit to the Catholic Church’s Asian stronghold.

“To kill in the name of God is an absurdity,” Pope Francis said when asked about last week’s assault by Islamist gunmen on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people died.

But the 78-year-old pontiff also said “each religion has its dignity” and “there are limits”.

‘Freedom of speech should be tempered by respect for faith’

“If a good friend speaks badly of my mother, he can expect to get punched, and that’s normal. You cannot provoke, you cannot insult other people’s faith, you cannot mock it,” he said.

Brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office, killing some of France’s most famous satirical cartoonists in their outrage over the magazine’s controversial depictions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Charlie Hebdo drew ire from religious groups again this week when it published a “survivors” issue featuring an image of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The cover sparked a backlash in some parts of the Muslim world.

Pope Francis, seen by many around the world as more progressive than many of his predecessors, said freedom of speech should be tempered by respect for faith.

“Freedom of speech is a right and a duty that must be displayed without offending,” he said just before arriving in the Philippine capital of Manila.

Francis on Thursday began the second leg of his Asia tour after a successful visit to Sri Lanka, where he preached on reconciliation and religious tolerance.

The pope has said his two-nation tour is aimed at adding momentum to the church’s already impressive growth in Asia, with its support in the Philippines the benchmark for the rest of the region.

Eighty per cent of the former Spanish colony’s 100 million people practise a famously fervent brand of Catholicism, and the pope is set to enjoy thunderously enthusiastic crowds throughout his stay.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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