Rabat - Speaking in reference to the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris last week, Pope Francis said it was wrong to insult the faith of others, adding that there are limits to the freedom of expression.
"You can't provoke, you can't insult the faith of others, you can't make fun of faith," Pope Francis told reporters on Thursday while aboard a plane taking him from Sri Lanka to the Philippines as part of a week-long visit to Asia.
The Pope's comments came a week after Islamic extremists stormed the Paris offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people.
He was asked about the relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
"I think both freedom of religion and freedom of expression are both fundamental human rights," the Pope said.
"Everyone has not only the freedom and the right but the obligation to say what he thinks for the common good…we have the right to have this freedom openly without offending," he added.
He also said that insulting religion is similar to insulting one's mother. "You can expect a punch in the nose, it's normal."
"You can't make a toy out of the religions of others," he added. "These people provoke and then (something can happen). In freedom of expression there are limits."
The Pope also condemned the violence carried out in God's name, saying it was "an aberration."
"Let's consider our own history. How many wars of religion have we had? Even we were sinners but you can't kill in the name of God."