US conservatives will be furious when they hear what Pope Francis says about them in 60 Minutes interview

Pope Francis is set to offend American conservative Christians with the release of an explosive interview in which he slams their 'suicidal attitude.'

The pontiff's 60 Minutes episode will screen on Sunday and could strain his already-bad relations with the Roman Catholic Church in the US.

His sit-down with Norah O'Donnell was recorded on April 24.

Francis was asked his thoughts on the backlash against his papacy by conservatives, including US clergy members.

Pope Francis in an explosive interview says America's conservative Catholics have a 'suicidal attitude'

He responded by saying a conservative is someone who 'clings to something and does not want to see beyond that.'

'It is a suicidal attitude,' he says, according to a transcript excerpt from CBS.

'One thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box.'

Francis has clashed with Christian conservatives almost since he was elected head of the church in 2013.

In December, he controversially approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples

That radical policy shift aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining a ban on gay marriage.

In the interview, Francis defends the move, saying the blessing was for people, not 'the union' itself.

'Some people were scandalized by this. But why?' he asks.

He added that homosexuality was not a crime but a 'human fact.'

Some of the pope's progressive policies have strained his ties with Catholic leaders in the US 

Conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke was stripped of some Vatican privileges last year

Conservatives have opposed the church becoming more welcoming to LGBT people and to giving lay people bigger roles in the institution.

Still, some of the pope's moves are closer to conservative viewpoints.

A Vatican document approved by Francis last month said gender fluidity, sex-change procedures and surrogacy were affronts to human dignity.

The pope's progressive approach has seen him clash with prominent US Catholics.

Francis last year dismissed conservative Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, who was a withering critic of his papacy.

It is very rare for a bishop to be relieved of his duties outright — they are usually allowed to resign without a fuss.

The Pope at the time said the conservative wing in the US church was 'reactionary.'

He also stripped a conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke of some Vatican privileges, including a large subsidized apartment and his salary.