If Jesus was alive today, he would have supported gay marriage. At least, Elton John believes he would have.

Over the weekend, John sat down with Sky News and explained that not only would Jesus back same-sex marriages but he would also want clergy to be able to marry, and he'd want celibacy to end in the Catholic Church, "Today" reported.

"These are old and stupid things, and the Church hierarchy might be up in arms about it -- the traditionalists -- but times have changed," John said. "We live in a different time. If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen. He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together, and that is what the Church should be about."

John said he hopes the changes happen within the Catholic Church, but he has been very happy about Pope Francis' methods. He praised him for focusing on love, saying that he has broken things "down to the bare bones."

The singer also spoke about his own wedding; John will marry his partner, David Furnish, next year.

He said that it would be "very quiet" and an "off-the-cuff" affair. He also added that gay rights still has a ways to go globally.

"As long as I'm alive, I will fight for people's rights," he said.

John intends to meet with President Vladimir Putin when he visits Russia in November.

"It's no good putting up a wall and saying I'm not talking to these people; the only way things get solved is by talking to people," John said. "There are so many people out there who are living a life of hell. And I'm living a life of, you know, luxury. And I have my human rights intact and I won't forget."