Pope Francis condemns burning of Koran - UAE newspaper

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, July 2, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

DUBAI (Reuters) -Pope Francis said the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Koran, has made him angry and disgusted and that he condemned and rejected permitting the act as a form of freedom of speech.

"Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it," the pope said in an interview in the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al Ittihad, published on Monday. "I feel angry and disgusted at these actions.