21 Tweets About the Pope’s Charlie Hebdo Comments

Ben Smith / January 15, 2015

Pope Francis spoke out on last week’s terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, suggesting there should be limits to freedom of expression, especially when dealing with insults to religion.

“If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch,” Francis said, according to numerous press reports. “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”

The pope, who made the comments today during a mid-flight press conference en route to an official visit to the Philippines, was referring to Alberto Gasparri, his event scheduler, throwing a pretend punch his way.

Francis continued: “There are so many people who speak badly about religions or other religions, who make fun of them, who make a game out of the religions of others. They are provocateurs. And what happens to them is what would happen to Dr. Gasparri if he says a curse word against my mother. There is a limit.”

Naturally, people from around the globe flocked to Twitter to react.

Spineless: http://t.co/2o4ZX2FgPk

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 15, 2015

"You cannot insult the faith of others." "Watch me." https://t.co/9QJHt6c0ct

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) January 15, 2015

The good news is that we can criticize what Pope Francis said without much fear that Catholic fundamentalists will murder us for doing so.

— AG (@AG_Conservative) January 15, 2015

Pope Francis says you can't insult another person's religion. Pope Francis is wrong. http://t.co/yyFyNjtDeE

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 15, 2015

Ugh. Why I continue to be a lapsed Catholic http://t.co/CgHDhmFI3e

— Amy Otto (@AmyOtto8) January 15, 2015

Wow, the Pope went further than I did in criticizing #CharlieHebdo cartoons. Look forward to conservatives saying he's worse than ISIS, too.

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) January 15, 2015

I guess we can stop worrying about the Pope reauthorizing the Crusades http://t.co/OobTKeIdTi

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 15, 2015

Pope Francis, Islamic beliefs that inspire murder need to change. How can that happen w/o free speech? Anti Charlie Hebdo = pro status quo

— Philip Schuyler (@FiveRights) January 15, 2015

Cept when insulting Judaism and Christianity, pup. MT @DRUDGE_REPORT: POPE: There are limits to free expression… http://t.co/7LZPjXbKSG

— illegalDeetz (@tahDeetz) January 15, 2015

There are limits to free expression: Pope http://t.co/Yku9KXBesy Politically right statement from a politician.

— ?????? (@ggiittiikkaa) January 15, 2015

Pope "defends free speech" but says it's wrong to "provoke" people to violence by insulting their faith. Which is it, @Pontifex?

— Lucy Wainwright (@Whoozley) January 15, 2015

Bill Donohue was wrong on free speech. The Pope is wrong too: http://t.co/0YoBaxRnI3

— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 15, 2015

Sorry, Holy Father @Pontifex – but you're so dangerously wrong about free speech > http://t.co/5LXAah7wV6

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 15, 2015

If the Pope is horribly wrong on economics and free speech, why does he have an authority on matters of faith?

— CJ Mordock (@CJMordock) January 15, 2015

I defend the Pope’s right to make victim-blaming comments. Free speech, innit? pic.twitter.com/SvGwpvDy6E

— Mark Sparrow (@MarkGSparrow) January 15, 2015

I concur with the Pope on the issue of free speech.

— indranil sinharoy (@indranil_leo) January 15, 2015

@CBSNews Aaaaaaaand respect for Pope gone. Free speech never goes too far. No one ever has to agree with anyone. Just use common sense.

— I AM THE STRELOK (@Sierra0052) January 15, 2015

In wake of Charlie Hebdo attack, Pope Francis says "there is a limit to free speech. Yes Mr Pope, you didn't have to say to this.

— MusicDrinker (@MusicDrinker) January 15, 2015

“Far be it from me to disagree with the pope,” says Josh Earnest about Pope Francis’ remarks about free speech and religion

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 15, 2015

Wise words which Pope Francis has said today clearly shows us how to make peace and not war. @pontifex http://t.co/12FYgVD5IX

— Karl Andrew Schembri (@SchembriKarl) January 15, 2015

I liked the new #Pope and then he says free speech shouldn't include religious insult. To that I say stick it in your funny looking hat, sir

— Ethan Bailey (@ebai_today) January 15, 2015