Pope Francis and the leaders of protestant churches in England and Scotland have denounced the criminalisation of homosexuality.

Speaking to reporters after visiting South Sudan, the Pope said such laws were a sin and “an injustice”.

He added people with “homosexual tendencies” are children of God and should be welcomed by their churches.

His comments were backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Iain Greenshields the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, who also travelled with the Pope to South Sudan to call for peace in the war-torn country.

It is the first time the leaders of the three traditions have come together for such a journey in 500 years.