Sir Elton John sat down with Sky News UK on Sunday and said if Jesus was alive today, he would approve the marriages of gay clergy.

Not only that, but the singer said that celibacy vows for Catholic clergy should be abolished as well:

These are old and stupid things. If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen.

John added, "He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that's what the church should be about."

John praised Pope Francis for his humility and tolerance. "The new Pope has been wonderful, he's excited me so much," John said. "He's stripped it down to the bare bones and said it's all basically about love."

In November, John hopes to take some of that "tolerance" and "love" to Russia President Vladimir Putin in a planned meeting to discuss gay rights. "I will see Putin and talk to him - I don't know what good it will do though," John said.