Pope Francis has hit out at gay parents, suggesting they are not able to properly raise children, at the same time that LGBT Pride was taking place in Rome.

The Pope made the comments on Sunday during Rome’s annual Pride march, saying the differences between women and men are “an integral part of being human,” and required to raise a child.

Going on to claim that the “diversity” found in a straight couples is essential for raising a child.

“They’re not scared of the differences!” he said. “What great richness this diversity is, a diversity which becomes complimentary, but also reciprocal. It binds them, one to the other.”

“Children mature seeing their father and mother like this; their identity matures being confronted with the love their father and mother have, confronted with this difference,” he said.

The comments came one day after Pride in Rome, where LGBT rights activists demanded protections under the law for LGBT Italians.

Despite a recent PR blitz attempting to bolster his gay-friendly image, the Pope is yet to lift any of the actively homophobic and transphobic policies of his predecessors.

He has also rallied against same-sex marriage, inviting representatives from listed hate groups to a ‘traditional marriage’ conference last year, and recently urged Slovakians to vote against equal marriage.

The Catholic leader has also compared transgender people to nuclear weapons.

The Pope earlier this month personally met with France’s proposed ambassador to the Vatican – to tell him his appointment will be blocked because he is gay.

The French government has refused to back down after selecting openly gay diplomat Laurent Stefanini to head to the home of the Catholic Church – which remains actively opposed to LGBT rights.

However, the Vatican snubbed the country’s selection of ambassador – refusing to answer the nomination in a bid to get it withdrawn.

The first civil unions to be officially registered in Rome were celebrated last month, as twenty couples became the first to register at City Hall.

The Mayor of Rome has repeatedly clashed with the government for registering same-sex marriages that were registered abroad, and cracks have appeared in the relationship between Italy and the Vatican over gradual acceptance of LGBT issues.