Pope: Don't ridicule faith or kill for God

MANILA, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Pope Francis, speaking Thursday on the Islamist killings in Paris, said no one has the right to kill for God, but freedom of expression has limits.

Aboard a plane taking him from Sri Lanka to the Philippines on a tour of Asia, the Pope said freedom of expression stops with ridicule of religious beliefs, noting, "Freedom of religion is essential," but "you don't toy with the religions of other people." His comments came after Islamic terrorists killed 10 people last week at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a magazine that routinely satirizes religion, including Islam. Seventeen victims and three terrorists died in the attack and in related incidents.

"You cannot kill in the name of God, This is an aberration. Killing in the name of God is an aberration against God. I think this is the main thing with freedom of religion. You can practice with freedom but without imposing or killing. Every religion has dignity, every religion that respects human life and the human person and I cannot make fun of it, and this is a limit."

At a mass Wednesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Pope listed freedom of religion as a human right.

In reference to the possibility he may be a target of an attack, the Pope said he was not worried and that he approaches the issue with a "meek, humble" attitude "without making aggression. I am feeling there are those who do not understand this."