Pope Francis said on Sunday that laws that criminalize LGBT people are a sin and injustice because God loves people with same-sex attraction, Reuters reported.

Francis, who made his remarks in response to questions from a journalist on board the plane as he returned from a trip to Africa, received full support for his comments from two other Christian leaders who were on the plane with him.

“The criminalization of homosexuality is a problem that cannot be ignored,” said Francis, who then cited a statistic, for which he did not cite a source, that 50 countries criminalize LGBT people “in one way or another” and about 10 more have laws that provide the death penalty for them.

Sixty-six UN member states continue to criminalize consensual same-sex sex, according to ILGA World – the International LGBTI Association. In several countries where same-sex relationships are illegal, penalties can include the possible death penalty.

“It is wrong. People with homosexual inclinations are children of God. God loves them. God accompanies them… it is a sin to condemn such a person. Criminalizing people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice,” Francis said.

He noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or book of teachings, says that same-sex attraction is not a sin, but homosexual acts are. It also says that LGBT people cannot be marginalized.

Shortly after becoming pope in 2013, Francis recalled his now-famous line that he could not judge homosexuals seeking God. He also recalled that during his visit to Ireland in 2018, he said that parents cannot give up their LGBT children, but must keep them in a loving family.

Pope Francis, supported by two other Christian leaders

The Pope made the trip to South Sudan, the second country on the tour, as a pilgrimage of peace with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly, Iain Greenshields.

Both Christian leaders were on the plane returning from South Sudan and took part in the Pope’s regular press conference with journalists, the first of any papal trip.

Both praised the Pope’s comments.

“I agree completely with every word he said,” Welby said, noting that the Anglican Communion itself is divided on gay rights and that two resolutions against LGBT criminalization “didn’t really change a lot of people’s minds.”

Welby added: “I will certainly quote the Holy Father. He said it so beautifully and accurately.”

In expressing his support for Francis, Greenshields cited the Bible, saying:

“In my reading of the four Gospels, nowhere do I see Jesus rejecting anyone. Nowhere in the four Gospels do I see anything other than Jesus expressing his love to everyone he meets, and as Christians that is the only expression we can give to any person in any circumstance.”

Francis reiterated that the Catholic Church cannot allow same-sex couples to marry, but he supports so-called civil union legislation, which gives same-sex couples legal protection in matters such as pensions, inheritance and health.