After initially stating that he could neither confirm nor deny that a meeting took place between Pope Francis and Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, then saying that he simply could not deny it, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, SJ today released a statement officially confirming that the two met during the Holy Father’s trip to DC last week.
The statement notes that the meeting “should not be considered a form of support of her position in all of its particular and complex aspects.”
Here is the full statement:
The brief meeting between Mrs. Kim Davis and Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC has continued to provoke comments and discussion. In order to contribute to an objective understanding of what transpired I am able to clarify the following points:
Pope Francis met with several dozen persons who had been invited by the Nunciature to greet him as he prepared to leave Washington for New York City. 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.
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.
On Wednesday, Davis told ABC News that meeting with the Pope “was a great encouragement.” “Just knowing that the pope is on track with what we’re doing, it kind of validates everything.”
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