Nestor Carlos Kirchner was succeeded in 2007 by his wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who defines herself as Catholic. During his term the same-sex marriage law was passed, which kept the conflict between the government and the Church elevated. The Catholic Church, together with faithful of Protestant denominations organized protests against such reform. The former archbishop of Buenos Aires and current Pope, Jorge Bergoglio, issued a statement to lawmakers who oppose the vote calling the effort "a movement by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God." And in a Synod of Bishops of Argentina, in a rare political statement, he urged Catholics to oppose the politicians who supported the bill.