A speech to Europe aimed at Russia sounded a lot like President Barack Obama 's successful campaign message from 2012 , especially when it came to gay rights . The address on Wednesday at the Palais Des Beaux-Arts in Brussels followed talks with European Union and NATO leaders on Russia 's military backed annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine . In making the case for a united stand against what he characterized as Russian aggression , Obama borrowed from the language that helped win him the White House for a second term . `` We believe in human dignity - that every person is created equal , no matter who you are , or what you look like , or who you love , or where you come from , '' he said . Later , Obama reiterated criticism of Russian intolerance spawned by a law passed before the Sochi Olympics that outlawed promoting gay rights to children . Western ideals and values of openness and tolerance would endure long past repression , he argued . `` Instead of targeting our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters , we can use our laws to protect their rights , '' he said . `` Instead of defining ourselves in opposition to others , we can affirm the aspirations that we hold in common . That 's what will make America strong . That 's what will make Europe strong . That 's what makes us who we are . '' His comments came a day before Obama meets with Pope Francis in Vatican City in a visit that the White House says will focus on their shared commitment to helping the disadvantaged . Earlier this month , the Pope reaffirmed the Catholic Church 's opposition to gay marriage but suggested in a newspaper interview that it could support some types of civil unions . While reiterating the church 's longstanding teaching that `` marriage is between a man and a woman , '' Francis said that `` we have to look at different cases and evaluate them in their variety . '' In the wide-ranging interview published March 5 in Corriere della Sera , an Italian daily , the Pope noted that state-sanctioned unions can result from the need to ensure rights such as access to health care . The Catholic News Service called the comments `` the first time a Pope has indicated even tentative acceptance of civil unions . '' Francis , who marked his papacy 's first anniversary on March 13 , has sought to set a more tolerant tone for his 1-billion-member church . Last June , the Pope refused to judge gay priests in comments that ricocheted around the world . He has also said that the church should not `` interfere '' in the spiritual lives of gays and lesbians .
President Obama promotes Western values against Russian intolerance . Instead of protecting gay and lesbians , use laws to protect their rights , Obama said . His comments come a day before Obama meets with Pope Francis . The Pope supports gay marriage , but has talked about the rationale for civil unions .