Elton John believes Jesus would be fine with gay marriage if he were alive today. 

The veteran singer told Sky News that in his view, Jesus would accept it because he was "all about love and compassion".

Sir Elton is already in a civil partnership with David Furnish but after gay marriage was legalised in England and Wales this year, the two are now planning to wed. 

"If Jesus was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen, " he told Sky News. 

"He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that is what the church should be about." 

He praised Pope Francis for making the Catholic Church more about "love and ... inclusiveness", saying that this "has to be encouraged by the Church of England as well". 

Sir Elton and Furnish will wed next year.  As they already had a large celebration for their civil partnerahip, Sir Elton said their wedding would be "very quiet".