A high-ranking Polish priest who was fired after coming out as gay has accused the Catholic Church of making life 'hell' for millions of homosexuals.

Father Krzystof Charamsa was stripped of his post earlier this month on the day he announced he was in a relationship with another man.

In a scathing letter to Pope Francis, he accused the Vatican of hypocrisy because he said the clergy was 'full of homosexuals'.

He also condemned the Church for causing 'immeasurable suffering' to homosexual Catholics and their families.

Scroll down for video

Polish priest Krzystof Charamsa (left) has accused the Catholic Church of making life 'hell' for millions of homosexuals after he was fired on the day he announced he was in a relationship with another man

In the letter, released to the BBC, he said he had taken the decision to 'publicly reject the violence of the Church towards homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual people'.

He called on 'all gay cardinals, gay bishops and gay priests to have the courage to abandon this insensitive, unfair and brutal Church.'

Pope Francis has not yet responded to the letter.

But the Vatican's anger contrasted with the news of Francis's still close relationship with an old Argentinian friend and his gay partner, who were hugged by the pontiff in the United States last month.

Father Charamsa has written a letter to Pope Francis, saying he had taken the decision to 'publicly reject the violence of the Church towards homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual people'

FURY AS ITALY ANNULS HUNDREDS OF GAY MARRIAGES An Italian court ruled that marriages of gay couples who wed abroad can't be registered in Italy, sparking an angry reaction from cities which had defied the government to recognise the unions. Italy's highest administrative court annulled a ruling by a lower court which had earlier found in favour of cities from Rome to Naples and Milan which had registered such marriages despite the fact that Italy has no legal framework for gay unions. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, who issued an order last year banning the practice, applauded the latest ruling, saying it showed he was right to take a stand despite having provoked 'controversy, sometimes violent aggression and a hail of appeals'. The decision was met in some quarters with anger if not surprise in a country where the Catholic Church - opposed to gay marriage - plays an influential role in politics. Foreign ministry undersecretary Benedetto Della Vedova said it was 'a victory for none and a defeat for all'. A bill introducing civil unions for same-sex couples is currently being examined by parliament but has met fierce opposition. Advertisement

The Pontiff has also previously said that the Church must have 'its doors open to welcome all those who knock' and not 'point the finger in judgement' of others.

Earlier this month, Father Charamsa rubbished claims that there was a 'gay lobby' trying to influence the church.

It came after the Pope made comments in the past that suggested there was a gay network in the Church.

In 2013 he famously said 'Who am I to judge?' when asked about homosexuals in the Church and the rumoured network of gay Vatican leaders.

But Father Charamsa denied the rumours.

'I met homosexual priests, often isolated like me... but no gay lobby,' he said, adding that he also met gay priests who were 'homophobes' and had 'hatred for themselves and others'.

Charamsa said he wrote a letter to Pope Francis asking him to convey his spirit of openness to bishops at the synod, where Church leaders discussed marriage and family teachings.

Since 2005, the Church has forbidden the ordination of priests with homosexual tendencies.

But this rule is applied in different ways, with many bishops turning a blind eye as long as priests remain celibate.