Pope Francis denounced killing a person in the name of God but added that free speech has its limits and that religion should not be ridiculed.
The statement was made in light of the terrorist attacks that happened in the office of satirical paper, Charlie Hebdo, wherein 12 people perished, reported Yahoo.
The pope was on his way to the Philippines for a 5-day visit from Sri Lanka.
Pope Francis spoke to reporters and said not to mock any religion as "each religion has its dignity" and "there are limits" to what anyone could say to another. The 78-year old pontiff said, "To kill in the name of God is an absurdity," referring to the Paris attack made by Islamist gunmen.
He further added, "If a good friend speaks badly of my mother, he can expect to get punched, and that's normal. You cannot provoke, you cannot insult other people's faith, you cannot mock it."
However, he maintained that provocation is still not enough justification to murder someone.
17 people died in Paris after an Islamist group attacked a newspaper office and a supermarket in a span of three days, noted The Daily Mail.
Brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi charged into the office of Charlie Hebdo and killed some cartoonists. The attack was prompted by the group's indignation of repeated features of the Prophet Mohammed, which they deemed insulting and rude.
Two days after, people were held hostage and some killed at a kosher supermarket in Paris. The suspect told police that his actions were coordinated and sanctioned by the two brothers.
After a global outrage came following the bloody attacks, the newspaper once again earned the ire of Muslim groups as it came out with a "survivors" issue - a cover depicting a weeping Mohammed while holding a sign that said, "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie).
For Muslims, drawing the prophet is considered sacrilege and many have expressed anger at the newspaper's issue again.
This was the background of the Pontiff's statement when he told reporters on his way to Manila that religion should be respected. While there is freedom of speech, it must be accompanied with regard to other people's beliefs.
"Freedom of speech is a right and a duty that must be displayed without offending," added the pope.
But the Vatican press office was quick to clarify the Pontiff's comments.
According to Yahoo, Rev. Thomas Rosica came out with a statement saying, "Pope Francis has not advocated violence with his word on the flight." He added that the words were "spoken colloquially and in a friendly, intimate manner among colleagues, and friends on the journey."
He also reiterated that the head of the Catholic Church has been clear on his stand with regard to the Paris attacks and that killing in the name of God could never be justified.
