A United Nations proposal to decriminalise homosexuality worldwide will be opposed by the Vatican.

The Church’s UN observer Celestino Migliore said the Vatican opposed the resolution because it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination".

"If adopted, they would create new and implacable discriminations," Migliore said.

"For example, states which do not recognise same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an object of pressure," Migliore told a French Catholic news agency.

However, the Vatican’s announcement has not been well received in Italy.

Italy’s La Stampa newspaper described the Vatican’s decision as “grotesque” and pointed out that homosexuality is punishable by death in more than 85 countries.  

What the Vatican really feared, La Stampa said, was a "chain reaction in favor of legally recognised homosexual unions in countries, like Italy, where there is currently no legislation."

Italian gay rights group Arcigay said the Vatican decision was "total idiocy and madness."

"The French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, has nothing to do with gay marriage. It is about stopping jail and the death penalty for homosexuals," Arcigay spokesperson ____ Grillini said.

France, which is moving the resolution on behalf of the European Union, rejected the Vatican’s claim the vote would affect recognition of same-sex couples.

"France's initiative ... is an initiative that is based on existing texts. The idea is not to create new rights. The idea is ... to make decriminalisation possible," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said.

However, Vatican spokesperson Rev Federico Lombardi defended the decision to oppose the resolution.

"No one wants the death penalty or jail or fines for homosexuals," Lombardi said.

The resolution appears likely to fail with fewer than 50 UN member states backing the resolution at this stage.   

“The Holy See is not alone," Lombardi said.

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