Quick – look here before another story takes over – Reactions to Pope’s message on Paris massacre.
Publications globally have stories on Pope Francis’s calm observations that the people don’t like insults – whether its about their religions – or their relatives – most importantly their mothers!
Wanting to sock a punch in the face of a person harbouring judgmental and nasty beliefs and remarks on your religion or mother is normal – that’s the “filtered-out” message of Pope Francis. Of course some of us don’t get on with our mothers, or want to change our faith, but the majority of us hate what’s closest to our hearts – especially our faith – being mocked or ridiculed.
So The Saturn Herald has got together a few comments from publications around the globe to show you that there is support for this calm and calculated view from a highly respected figure so important in the world status. Please see below for a summary:-
Europe
The Spanish daily El Pais says on its front page: “Pope: ‘If you insult my mother you can expect a punch.'” They support Pope Francis being direct and concise.
Italy’s Bergamo Post says the Pope’s remarks that he was justified in punching someone for insulting his mother was an “absolutely normal” response. Such lapses can even happen “to a Pope who knows you shouldn’t punch people”, the paper says. So is that a definite “yes” from Italy? We think so.
Writing in Italy’s Corriere della Serra, commentator Luigi Accattoli says the Pope has delivered “one of his truisms intended to have maximum impact”, that is “if you insult the faith of others… you can expect a punch”. He adds that the Pope’s comments about freedom of speech echo those made by his predecessor, Pope Benedict, in 2006 following the publication of the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Luigi has hindsight and is on the ball in The Saturn Herald’s opinion. Concisely, people’s faith are so very important to them – family and religious ones.
Commentator Franca Giansoldati writes in the Italian daily, Il Messagero, that the Pope’s language is “becoming ever more colourful and direct”. Yes – surely in response to what he was reacting to that is a good thing? We think and hope people do beleive so.
Jan-Christoph Kitzler, German Public TV’s Rome correspondent, says it is a “very unusual example for a Pope to give”. Hamburg’s Die Zeitnewspaper dubbed the pontiff’s remarks as “plain-speaking”. Well we mustn’t forget that we have had Labour MP’s who have actually done the thing – punch somebody who threw an egg at him – punch thrown by John Prescott. We hope the Pope won’t need to actually demonstrate an ACTUAL left or right hook but his lack of gentleness in his reaction to this particular situation is to be applauded. It would have looked silly if 1) He had said he would throw an egg at a person or 2) Told them to jump in the lake or 3) Shot them. Let’s be reasonable like Pope Francis and see his meaning is peaceful, loving and intelligently thought out.
Latin AmericaThe story also features prominently on the front pages of Argentine dailies La Nacion, Clarin and Tiempo. La Nacion says the Pope “stirred up controversy when he said that if someone insulted his mother he would respond with a punch”. They love their Pope. Google them!
The Brazilian daily, Folha de Sao Paolo, is less forgiving. “Francisco why don’t you shut up” screams a front-page headline. Commentator Reinaldo Azevedo compares the “politicking” Pope to a village priest and says his remarks on freedom of expression were “cowardly and inaccurate”. Spokesman for Brazil – we ask you to sleep on your remarks for a couple of nights. We need such a holy man to stabilise us all in the face of extreme provocations from various sources.
But the Mexican daily, El Universal, echoes the Pope’s opinion saying: “You cannot insult others’ faith without causing anger.” Mexico – well said – short and sweet.
Middle EastAlgeria’s Echourouk El Youmi says: “Pope Francis has said that freedom of expression is a fundamental right but it does not mean that we should insult the beliefs of others.” Yes – we need to look into how free people can be with their freedom of comments, put-downs or slander – as it can be deemed in a court of law……
The Saudi pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq Al-Aswat issues a note of caution to the Catholic Church. It says that while there is surprise over the current extremist attacks, “the Church must remember the religious wars we have witnessed” throughout history. Hmmm…need to think on and digest this – query – surprising reaction….
Libyan Al-Tadamun News Agency website echoes the Pope’s comments, saying “killing in the name of God was absurd”. Libya needs to read The Saturn Herald’s story on Franco-Algerian problems especially around the early sixties, also to be found in last Sunday’s Sunday Times (11/1/15) . We need to make people feel welcome in our countries and not alienate them by ridicule. It drives people into a bottle- neck of violence and retribution and when they pop out they come as terrorists willing to sacrifice their own lives as well as others’ as life has proved so negative for them under another regime. However it happens in their own countries too so that is only part of the formula which drives people to violence. Amen.
PakistanPakistani daily The FrontierPost says the Pope’s remarks come at the “perfect time”. It urges him to go “a step further” and call on the UN to adopt international laws which respect all religions and faiths. “Bravo Pope Francis for playing the lead.” Pakistan – we hail you and welcome your input. Please write and do more on this suggested project. We all need a way forward and countries in difficulties have the experience to bring something new and important to the table at peace-related meetings! Well done! (nb countries in difficulties seem to encompass quite a few – here at The Saturn Herald we do recognise that).