Pope Francis has become the first sitting head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State to support the same-sex law.
The Pope on Wednesday called for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples, departing from the position of the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the pope’s predecessors on the issue.
“Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it,” Pope Francis said.
Francis had initially supported civil unions for gay couples as an alternative to same-sex marriages while serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
His remarks are expected to arouse debate among the Catholics.
“What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered…I stood up for that.”