Pope Francis’ meeting with Kim Davis did not endorse her position, Vatican says

The Vatican first refused to confirm or deny that Pope Francis met with Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis during his visit to the U.S. last week. But on Friday, the Vatican did confirm that the meeting took place, but said that it didn’t mean that Pope Francis was endorsing Davis’ position.

Earlier this week, Davis’ attorney said that she and the Pope briefly met on Sept. 24 at the Vatican Embassy in Washington DC.

Davis, who was jailed for five days because she refused to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses, told ABC News that the Pope told her, “Thank you for your courage.” She also said she was given two rosaries, which she will give to her parents since they are Catholic, notes NPR.

This meeting seemed to imply that the Pope was endorsing her and aware of her position on same-sex marriage. However, the Rev. Federico Lombardi said in a statement to The New York Times that the Pope’s meeting shouldn’t be considered an endorsement.

“The pope did not enter into the details of the situation of Mrs. Davis, and his meeting with her should not be considered a form of support of her position in all of its particular and complex aspects,” Lombardi wrote.

Lombardi wrote that the Pope met with dozens of people who were invited by the Nunciature - the Vatican embassy - to greet him when he left Washington DC to head to New York.

“Such brief greetings occur on all papal visits and are due to the pope’s characteristic kindness and availability. The only real audience granted by the pope at the Nunciature was with one of his former students and his family,” he continued.

Initially, the Vatican only said that, “The Holy See is aware of the reports of Kim Davis meeting with the Holy Father. The Vatican does not confirm the meeting, nor does it deny the meeting.” However, many saw the meeting as an important statement on the Pope’s views. Conservatives were happy to see the Pope appear to take a stand against same-sex marriage and liberals, who were previously impressed by the Pope’s stance on the poor and global warming, were disappointed.