Retired Archbishop and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa made some strong remarks supporting gay rights at the U.N. programme for gay rights in Cape Town. So did Pope Francis I.

The bishop said he is very clear about the stand on gay rights, “I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this,” reports Agence France Presse.

He added his thoughts on tolerance for all saying, “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place.”

Despite his retirement from active involvement in the church in South Africa, he articulates he is as passionate about LGTB issues as apartheid: “I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level,” Bishop Tutu was quoted as saying by The Huffington Post.

Bishop Tutu continued to say that he is at war with any deity at war with homophobia. Having fought against apartheid with leaders like Nelson Mandela, who recently celebrated his 95th birthday in a Pretoria hospital, Bishop Tutu has expressed his strong protest against homophobia and the tolerance of everyone, which resonates with the message of apartheid.

Although there was no clear distinction made by the Bishop about exact definitions in the church regarding, homosexuality, homophobia, same-sex marriage, etc., his claims of acceptance of “all people” sets him apart from other bishops who have more conservative views. This has led to Bishop Desmund Tutu’s gain in popularity.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis I made a similar statement in Brazil while attending the Roman Catholic World Youth Forum.
In a more dramatic interview with Vatican reporters aboard an Alitalia, Pope Francis spoke about homosexuality as an act of sin, but the homosexual orientation is not to be judged.

In a similar tone to Bishop Tutu, the Pope said “If a person who is seeking God, and is of a particular sexual orientation, who I am to judge,” reports BBC.

However, Pope Francis also said that he encourages women to be more active in the Church, but that the church has closed its doors to women priests.