The Pope and the Limits of Free Speech

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, Pope Francis has made ill-considered remarks inviting the conclusion that, at some point or in some manner, insulting words will / do (must?) provoke a forceful reply.  This is being construed, for example, by Vox as follows:  "Pope Francis on free speech: if you insult religion, expect violence."  

According to the Vatican News Service, "Pope Francis said on Thursday that there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith....  Pope Francis was asked by a French journalist about the relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression.  He replied saying that both are "fundamental human rights" and stressed that killing in the name of God “is an aberration.” But he said there were limits to that freedom of expression.  By way of example he referred to Alberto Gasparri who organizes the papal trips and was standing by his side on the plane. The Pope said if “his good friend Dr Gasparri” says a curse word against his mother, he can “expect a punch”, and at that point he gestured with a pretend punch towards him, saying: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others.  You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”"  

How this "punch" fits into Christian teaching is a puzzle--it surely doesn't seem to square with Jesus' message about love for enemies (Luke 6:27, 35).  Better to leave the matter of applying force to the state, since civil government has the responsibility to preserve law and order and to use means, even force when necessary, to protect citizens and apply justice (Romans 13:1-7).

[Jan. 17 update:  Numerous other reports are questioning the pope's remarks--e.g., British Prime Minister David Cameron, who contends that it is wrong to endorse revenge:  "I think in a free society, there is a right to cause offence about someone’s religion. I’m a Christian; if someone says something offensive about Jesus, I might find that offensive, but in a free society I don’t have a right to wreak vengeance on them."  And former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, writes, "I am a great admirer of the Pope but when, to make the proper point that we should not insult the faith of others, he said his assistant could “expect a punch” if he cursed his mother, I was aghast."]
.