Pope Francis, Leaders of Anglican and Presbyterian Church, Denounce Anti-Gay Laws

The leaders of three of the world's largest Christian denominations gathered together in a joint news conference to denounce laws that criminalize homosexuality. The three leaders, led by Pope Francis, and heads of the Anglican Church and Presbyterian Church say these anti-gay laws are unjust.

The news conference, which involved the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion and top Presbyterian minister, happened after Pope Francis visited South Sudan in a three-day ecumenical pilgrimage.They tried helping in the young African country's peace process. However, South Sudan remains one of 67 countries that criminalizes homosexuality, according to the Associated Press.

During the news conference in the sky aboard the Papal Plane, Pope Francis was asked about his recent comments to the Associated Press regarding gay rights. However, the pope did not repeat his words "being homosexual is not a crime," in perhaps an attempt not to antagonize his South Sudanese hosts.

The Associated Press noted that the pope's comments were objected to by the South Sudan government, with Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth saying, "If he (Pope Francis) is coming here and he tells us that marriage of the same sex, homosexuality, is legal, we will say no."

However, the pope still called their laws unjust and repeated previous statements that parents should not throw their children out of their homes should they turn out to be homosexual.

"To condemn someone like this is a sin," the pope said. He added that homosexual people are also children of God and that God loves and accompanies them.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Leader of the Anglican Church, Backs Pope Francis Vs. Anti-Gay Laws

Archbishop Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Anglican Church, stated that he entirely agrees with the Pope.

However, the BBC pointed out that the Church is having its own internal divisions over gay rights as the Church of England stated that it would refuse to allow same-sex couples to be married in its churches.

Dr. Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who was also traveling with the Pope to South Sudan, expressed his own support to his Catholic counterpart.

He said, "There is nowhere in the four Gospels that I see anything other than Jesus expressing love to whoever he meets, and as Christians that is the only expression that we can give to any human being in any circumstance".

Pope Francis Hits at Critics Who Are 'Using Pope Benedict XVI's Death for Their Own Gain'

During that same press conference regarding the South Sudan trip with the leaders of other Churches, Pope Francis also targeted his critics, speaking against those whom he says are using the death of his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for their own interests.

He called the people using the former pope's death partisans and unethical, according to the Catholic News Agency.

The pope was asked if his papal ministry had become more difficult since his predecessor's death. However, the pope reiterated that he was able to speak about everything to Pope Benedict XVI and added, "He was always by my side, supporting me. And if he had any difficulty he would tell me and we would talk and there was no problem."

He then admitted that there are people who have been trying to pit the two popes against each other.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Pope Francis concludes trip to South Sudan. More than 100,000 attended Mass in Juba | Feb 5, 2023 - EWTN