Italian politics is highly influenced by the Vatican, and apparently the Church and the state cannot be completely separated in Italy despite the fact that it is a basic principle of democracy. After the country's civil unions bill was adopted, Pope Francis said, "Government officials who are Catholic should have the freedom of conscience to discriminate against married gay people." He established the right to conscientious objection for those who refuse to celebrate civil unions, saying that it shall be recognized as a human right in various legal structures.