Abstract
Religious freedom is one of the fundamental human rights, guaranteeing the possibility to profess, practise and manifest one's religion or beliefs without fear of repression. Today, religious freedom on a global scale appears to be a multifaceted issue, and the exercise of this right in the postmodern world is marked by numerous challenges and threats. The pontificate of Pope Francis came at a demanding time, as the global context included a number of religious conflicts and increasing persecution on the grounds of religious belief. In a world dominated by secularism, relativism, radicalism and religious fundamentalism, the Pope points out that religious freedom appears to be a fundamental condition for authentic peace in a pluralistic world. Therefore, the subject of religious freedom has occupied an important place during the pontificate of the Bishop of Rome, as evidenced by its presence in many speeches, homilies and documents. The aim of this article is to analyse the theme of religious freedom in the teachings of Pope Francis. The article discusses the basic terminology related to religious freedom, the threats to it, and selected aspects of the Pope's teachings on this subject. The primary research method employed by the author is the analysis of selected source texts and the relevant literature.