To hope the Pope does indeed punch his assistant...

[PausingFlatly]

... and get arrested for assault.

Seems he thinks it's clever to state that people who insult his mother should be punched.

As an example of how to treat people who insult him or religion.

And I'd thought this Pope wasn't dim. Looks like I was wrong.

Forgot the link in my frustration: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30835625

what can you expect from a group with such an -shall I say- interesting past.

I think he was trying to give an example that wasn't linked to religion. Something that anyone could understand. If he had said he would punch someone who insulted the Catholic church only Catholics might agree. I think alot of people would object to having their mother insulted.

Doesn't the bible mention turning the other cheek? I'm an atheist He must have skipped that page?

A lot of people may well not like having their mother insulted.

But if they punch the insulter, they will be charged with assault.

Wondered how long before we'd get a thread .

I don't think the Pope meant it to be taken literally, he was illustrating a point. As I said something he assumed people would understand. I know alot of men who would people if they were insulting their mother, it would be a good way to start an argument.

Obviously the drugs are making their way back into Vatican City. I hear cocaine can make you a bit feisty

Leader of major world religion advocates mutual respect. Shocking!

And assuming the Guardian is tolerant because of wikileaks is like making assumptions about the Mail based on their dogged pursuit of the Lawrence killers.

He's been doing quite well lately as far as popes go, I think I can let it go

He didn't suggest responding in words. Or as Libitina points out, turning the other cheek.

He was specifically speaking in the context of people physically harming other human beings because they were offended by words (the Paris shootings).

His response: a gesture of physical harm.

Twat.

Actually my dad was a good Catholic boy, if someone had insulted his mother he would have flattened them. Maybe Catholic men have greater respect for their mothers? Then again my sons aren't Catholic and I think they would also be less than impressed, they might give one warning, oh what it is to be loved by your children.

Now who's using the bible for their own ends ? It also states the law of retaliation , eye for an eye etc. Suppose if he had talked about turning the other cheek you would have changed quotes.

I was really taken aback by this.

What a foolish, ill considered comment. Does he not have a shred of insight or intelligence regarding current events?

He wasn't advocating mutual respect.

He said, "You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others. There is a limit."

Actually, mate, I can insult the faith of others.

Most days I don't choose to. But if I want to, I can. And, actually, you can insult my mother whether I like it or not.

He was saying you sould do it, he was giving some advice on what might happen if people did. As someone else said, can't remember who but it was on BBC news, just because you can do something it doesn't mean you should.

He wasn't speaking in English, btw.

It sounds like simultaneous interpretation on the BBC clip. Any native speakers here catch the original and able to comment on whether the English version captures tone of original accurately or if it is over-literal? Idiom can be so difficult between languages.

Agree the Pope is calling for respect, and avoidance of provocation.

It was a pretty daft thing for him to say. I get the non-religious example but I'm disappointed about this - he was doing pretty well for a pope.

Eye for an eye stuff is all Old Testament.

It's still the bible .

Yes, but Catholicism is NT.

I actually don't give a shit about the turn the other cheek thing.

I'm furious that he has advocated violence as a response to insult, regardless.

But now that someone has pointed it out, it is indeed worse for him to say this than for others, as his religion specifically adjures him to turn the other cheek (New Testament). We were always told at Catholic school that this was one of the many pieces of New Testament Christian law that superseded OT law such as eye for an eye.

See , pick and choose . That's the trait of the professionally offended , hiding under the guise of promoting freedom of speech . Bet your knickers would be up to your tits if someone insulted your culture .

He wasn't saying you should do it but that if you provoke someone then you shouldn't be surprised if they give you a smack around the chops. He wasn't saying it was right.