VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as "unjust," speaking God loves all his children just as they are and requested on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ republic into the church.

"Being homosexual isn't a crime," Francis said during an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.

Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the domain support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ shared, and he himself referred to the issue in conditions of "sin." But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops in particular need to undergo a procedure of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.

"These bishops have to have a procedure of conversion," he said, adding that they should apply "tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us."

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Some 67 countries or jurisdictions worldwide criminalize consensual same-sex sexual agency, 11 of which can or do impose the extremity penalty, according to The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say even where the laws are not enforced, they contribute to harassment, stigmatization and violence against LGBTQ people.

In the U.S., more than a dozen messes still have anti-sodomy laws on the books, despite a 2003 Supreme Court ruling declaring them unconstitutional. Gay rights advocates say the antiquated laws are used to harass homosexuals, and point to new legislation, such as the "Don't say gay" law in Florida, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten ended third grade, as evidence of continued efforts to marginalize LGBTQ people.

The United Nations has repeatedly shouted for an end to laws criminalizing homosexuality outright, proverb they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries' obligations concept international law to protect the human rights of all country, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Declaring such laws "unjust," Francis said the Catholic Church can and must work to put an end to them. "It must do this. It must do this," he said.

Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church in proverb gay people must be welcomed and respected, and must not be marginalized or discriminated against.

"We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the control that each of us fights for our dignity," Francis said, saying to the AP in the Vatican hotel where he lives.

Such laws are well-liked in Africa and the Middle East and date from British colonial times or are inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops have strongly upheld them as consistent with Vatican teaching that magistrates homosexual activity "intrinsically disordered," while others have called for them to be overturned as a violation of basic biosphere dignity.

In 2019, Francis had been expected to teach a statement opposing criminalization of homosexuality during a rallies with human rights groups that conducted research into the effects of such laws and so-called "conversion therapies."

In the end, the pope did not meet with the groups, which instead met with the Vatican No. 2, who reaffirmed "the dignity of every biosphere person and against every form of violence."

On Tuesday, Francis said there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin with regard to homosexuality.

"Being homosexual is not a crime," he said. "It's not a crime. Yes, but it's a sin. Fine, but first let's renowned between a sin and a crime."

"It's also a sin to lack charity with one another," he added.

Catholic teaching holds that once gay people must be treated with respect, homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered." Francis has not changed that teaching, but he has made reaching out to the LGBTQ public a hallmark of his papacy.

Starting with his injurious 2013 declaration, "Who am I to judge?" when he was requested about a purportedly gay priest, Francis has gone on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and interpret community. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he favored granting factual protections to same-sex couples as an alternative to endorsing gay marriage, which Catholic doctrine forbids.

Despite such outreach, Francis was criticized by the Catholic LGBTQ public for a 2021 decree from the Vatican's doctrine workplace that the church cannot bless same-sex unions "because God cannot bless sin."

The Vatican in 2008 declined to sign onto a U.N. declaration that shouted for the decriminalization of homosexuality, complaining the text went beyond the fresh scope and also included language about "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" it fraudulent problematic. In a statement at the time, the Vatican urged conditions to avoid "unjust discrimination" against gay people and end penalties in contradiction of them.

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