Pope Francis: Catholics don't have to reproduce 'like rabbits'

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Pope Francis said Monday that the Catholic Church's ban on contraception doesn't mean that couples should have as many children as possible.

"Some people think that -- excuse my expression here -- that in order to be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits," the pontiff told reporters aboard the papal plane on Monday.

Instead, Pope Francis advocated the natural family planning method, in which couples avoid sexual intercourse during the woman's peak fertility periods.

"No. Parenthood is about being responsible. This is clear," he added.

The pope was on his way back from the Philippines, where an estimated six million people turned up to see him conduct an open-air mass in Manila.