Weighing in on last week's terror in France and the debate over freedom of expression, Pope Francis stressed that killing "in the name of God" is wrong, but it is also wrong to "provoke" people by belittling their religion. The Head of the Catholic church said that It's wrong to make fun of others' faith and decried at the same time violence done in God's name. He explained that there was no justification for the killing of 17 people in France. "One cannot make war (or) kill in the name of one's own religion," Francis said on his way to the Philippines. "... To kill in the name of God is an aberration." Still, even as he decried the violence and generally spoke in support of freedom of expression, the pontiff said that such freedom must have its limits. Still, even without talking about the magazine by name, the Pope prefaced his remarks by saying, "let's go to Paris, let's speak clearly." He then referred to recent violence there, as well as the debate about freedom of expression. Francis said on his flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Manila that everyone had not only the liberty, but also the obligation, "to say what he thinks to help the common good." But he added that this should be done without giving offense, because human dignity should be respected. If a friend "says a swear word against my mother, then a punch awaits him," Francis said. Vatican Radio reported that he then "gestured with a pretend punch" directed at the friend, Alberto Gasbarri -- an action that many journalists interpreted as a joke. Vatican spokesman Thomas Rosica later told CNN the remark was "spoken colloquially," adding the Pope wasn't advocating violence or in any way justifying the terror attacks. Right after the punch gesture, Francis said, "It's normal, it's normal. "One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people's faith, one cannot make fun of faith."
