Pope Benedict XVI assailed same-sex marriages as a danger to humanity on Monday in an apparent response to Portugal’s move to legalize same-sex marriage last week.

According to Agence France-Presse, the 82-year-old pope said that humans “can be protected or endangered” in his address to the Vatican diplomatic corps.

"One such attack comes from laws or proposals which, in the name of fighting discrimination, strike at the biological basis of the difference between the sexes," said the pope, citing "certain countries in Europe or North and South America,” reported AFP.

"Freedom cannot be absolute," said the Roman Catholic leader.

Last Friday, Portugal’s parliament approved plans to legalize marriage equality, which could receive a final vote before the pope is scheduled to visit the country in May.