Pope Francis is scared about the future of marriage.

When speaking to Catholic bishops from Puerto Rico in Rome, he talked about the wonderful things about marriage–and how it’s directly under attack by the new-age idea of “gender identity.”

“Let me draw your attention to the value and beauty of marriage,” Francis said. “The difference between men and women are not of the order of opposition or subordination, but rather communion and generation, always as the image and semblance of God.”

“The sacrament of marriage is a sign of God’s love for humanity and Christ’s commitment to His bride, the Church. Take care of this treasure…”

Over the last few weeks, issues of “gender identity” have risen to front page headlines. Inspired mostly by Caitlyn Jenner, the reality TV star formerly known as Olympian Bruce Jenner, who publicly came out with a spread in Vanity Fair magazine, it seems to be the topic of conversation all around the globe–even reaching its way to the Vatican, with Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has been both praised and criticized for his often-unorthodox beliefs when it comes to religious and economic issues. In many ways, he’s given substantial more left-leaning lip service for the Catholic Church on issues like gay marriage and poverty–and urging the Church to find ways of better including more liberal populations in Europe and the United States.

But despite all of the arguments made in support and opposition of transgender rights, Pope Francis remains opposed. And, because of his stature as the head of the largest singular religion in the world, he offers a unique perspective: that, because both men and women were created in the image of God, that’s something that can’t be replicated–especially by surgery that turns men into women and vice versa.

That’s a sentiment–a religious sentiment–that seems to be missing from a lot of the commonplace arguments about transgenders these days.

Pope Francis takes a longer term view of the often-trying controversial issues of the day.

As he told the bishops from Puerto Rico, “Know how to keep a distance from any form of ideological or political trend that may lead you to waste time and your true zeal for the Kingdom of God.”