During a Monday address to the diplomatic corps assigned to the Vatican, Pope Benedict said that same-sex marriage threatens the future of humanity, reports Reuters.

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Diplomats from nearly 180 countries listened as he touched on economic and social issues facing our world. “This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself,” Benedict said.

Vatican and Catholic officials have protested against moves to legalize gay marriage around the world, including New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, whom the pope will elevate to cardinal next month.

The Roman Catholic Church reaches 1.3 billion members worldwide, and teaches that homosexual acts are sinful and children should grow up in a traditional family with a mother and a father.

Photo: Wikipedia