Pope Francis' surprise endorsement of same-sex civil unions reverberated through the Roman Catholic world Thursday, with his comments prompting criticism but also support — including from the strongman leader of Asia’s largest Catholic nation.

Even before the pope's comments Wednesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte supported a law that would recognize civil unions in same-sex relationships, his spokesman said in a televised briefing.

Still, conservative Catholic politicians have resisted legislation to recognize same-sex civil union or marriage fearing the ire of influential church leaders.

Following Francis' remarks in a documentary, Thomas Tobin, the conservative bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, immediately called for clarification.

"The pope's statement clearly contradicts what has been the long-standing teaching of the church about same-sex unions," Tobin said in a statement.

The definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman remains intact regardless of the pope’s remarks on same-sex unions, Brian Burch, president of the conservative group CatholicVote, said.

The pope’s statement came as part of a documentary about his life that aired in Rome on Wednesday, in which he said homosexuals were “children of God" who have a right to a family, and added that a civil union law is necessary to protect their rights.