You cannot mock faith, there is a limit to freedom of speech

Pope Francis on Thursday, speaking to journalists on a flight to the Philippines, defended freedom of speech, but stressed that it is wrong to provoke others with religious insults, reports the Patria News Agency. 

- You cannot provoke, you cannot insult other people's religion, you cannot mock faith, he told reporters on the flight from Sri Lanka to Manila.

Francis, who condemned last week's attacks in Paris, was asked by journalists about the relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

-I think both of these freedoms are fundamental human rights, he replied, Reuters reports.

-Everyone not only has freedom of speech but also has the right and obligation to express what they think for the public good... We have the right to this freedom, without offending, he said, and to illustrate the point, he pointed to his associate and said: "It is true that you must not react violently, but, even though we are good friends, if he curses my mother, he can expect a punch, that's normal," said Pope Francis.

- You cannot turn other people's religion into a toy... There are limits to freedom of speech, the Pope said.

Seventeen people, including journalists, police officers and civilians, were killed in three days of violence in France that began with an attack on the weekly Charlie Hebdo, known for mocking Islam and other religions.