Pope Francis was reportedly shocked to hear that a proposed Civil Union bill in the Catholic island of Malta would allow gay couples to adopt children.

Bishop Charles Scicluna of Malta — who, in his Christmas sermon, “condemned adoption by same-sex couples” because he “insisted that God’s own son was raised by a man and a woman, and not by two men or two women” — reportedly met Pope Francis on December 12.

Of this meeting, Bishop Scicluna told the Times of Malta, “We discussed many aspects… and when I raised the issue that’s worrying me as a bishop [the right for gay couples to adopt], he encouraged me to speak out.”