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.

Pope Francis is a wise and gentle man, I think. But he knows that most of the population on this planet does not think like him. So why ridicule something that people get so het up about?

I dont see it as bowing to terrorists, but recognizing that we dont have to escalate a problem just because we have Freedom of speech. Why provoke and ridicule if we can be respectful and take a moral high ground? Urging to calm in the face of terrorists who will take any provocation as a green light is a good thing, I think. It is not about Faith, but terrorists using Faith as their reason and weapon.

What I mean to say is, by ridiculing religion, you are not necessarily offending millions of people of that faith (I suspect most people are rational when their Faith is mocked), but waving a Red Flag at the Terrorist Bull!

Interesting that Italian culture is similar to Spanish in that respect Bananagio. In British culture we just go straight for the personal insults directed at that individual in front of us, which is why I think insulting someone's mother seems an odd concept to Brits.

Mind you, I am more of a 'turn the other cheek' type myself and wouldn't start hurling insults.

I just hope he manages to get to the children being put in cages ready for his visit to Manila

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2906730/EXCLUSIVE-Children-CAGED-God-Police-seize-orphans-chain-filth-clear-streets-Pope-s-visit-Philippines.html

The alternative to waving the 'red flag at the Bull' is to get down on our knees and promise not to, in case the terrorists don't like it.

Dont you rather think he will try get those children out of the cages ?
abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-francis-hell-focus-poor-exploited-victims-injustice-28240749

"Francis said that more than ever, political leaders must be "outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good." He said they must hear the cries of the poor and address the "glaring and indeed scandalous social inequalities" in society.

He challenged Filipinos "at all levels of society, to reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child in the life of the community."

• From this report news.yahoo.com/pope-heading-philippines-where-adoring-crowds-await-064259265.html

But that is not the only alternative, Back.

It is perhaps pathetic to quote this, but perhaps apt "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem"

WillBeatJanuaryBlues I'm sure he will keep his eyes lifted up to heaven to avoid seeing anything being done to children. I think that's something they learn early.

Back, how can you be so sure? You are good at drawing caricature with words, I give you that!

www.latinospost.com/articles/32091/20140213/pope-francis-might-be-fooling-vatican-security-at-night-to-help-the-poor.htm

This is not the only report like this. The pope was a simple Jesuit priest, ministering to the poor in his home country before he become pope.

You surpass yourself.

That is just stupid, and not worthy of a response.

So that's a no then.

That is a "no, I cannot discuss with somebody twisting like this". It is beyond my capability. Sorry.

On the other matter:

Pope Francis might be sneaking out of the Vatican, evading security guards at nights with the intention of secretly helping the homeless on the streets of Rome

Awww that's sooo sweet. Isn't it sweet! Isn't that just lovely! Oh he is such a gorgeous man to do that.

I bet they feel so much better about being poor when he goes.

It's just a pity that he's not allowed to do something tangible for them and has to sneak around even to talk to them, but that's the Catholic church for you.

Back, why is it 'us' vs 'them'? Surely the Muslim people living peacefully in our country deserve tolerance, as well as atheists? Or are you actually advocating killing all Muslim people everywhere in response to the minority who murder?

I wonder what statistic of the population is atheist? It would be a Lonely Planet indeed, when we have finished killing off all the religious people (Isnt that what China tried to do in Tibet? They outlawed religion quite successfully in Mongolia)

Surely what he said was quite simple:

You have the right to say what you want.
Sometimes what you say might offend people.
Sometimes the offended person might react violently.
Insulting a person's mother, or religion, might lead to a violent response.

The only one of these statements that isn't absolutely true is the first one.

CNNs take on what happened. Its clear that people are determined to take what the Pope said out of context. He was not condoning violence but expressing the sentiment that it is not christian to go around deliberately offending people just for the sake of it and if you do it is natural that people will become angry.

Which is absolutely true. If you do deliberately set out to provoke someone then of course they will get angry. You can't just expect people to have no emotional reaction. However, it in no way, under no circumstances implies that the terrorists were right to act in a violent manner.

However, being a lover of the old Spitting Image, I am really conflicted about satire .

" it is not christian to go around deliberately offending people just for the sake of " All of your post is very good, bad kitten.

Which God?

For all I know it could be the same God, or Force, just referred to in different ways due to translations, or cultural perspectives.

I am Christian, because that is the interpretation I have been brought up with. But it is just a human way of trying to make sense or understand. Who knows what the Truth about the Phenomena we try to describe really is?

Maybe only Erich von Däniken speaks the truth....

I don't think I am taking what he said out of context - maybe something was lost in translation..

I believe that if you can't joke about religion you are in a bad place. I grew up with Dave Allen; he got death threats from the IRA I've heard. I loved his sign off "May your God go with you."

I think the pope sounds like he has a great sense of humour,- unlike a few on this thread.
Then again atheists have never quite learned how to laugh at themselves.