Posted: May 16, 2008 - 10:30 am ET

(Vatican City) Pope Benedict is again weighing in on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Benedict has told representatives of Catholic family organizations in Europe on Friday that traditional marriage should not be confused with other forms of union.

He called traditional marriage an irreplaceable good for all of society and said the union between man and woman is the ``natural cradle'' of life.

Several European countries have approved same-sex unions.

California's Supreme Court also issued a ruling Thursday legalizing gay marriage.

Massachusetts is the only other U.S. state to do so.