The Vatican Issues New Statement on Pope Francis' Meeting with Kim Davis

The Vatican has released a new statement on Pope Francis‘ private meeting with Kentucky clerk Kim Davis to seemingly distance him from the woman.

It was previously confirmed that the two met in Washington, D.C. during the dignitary’s visit to the United States.

“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,” Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, the head of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement.

“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 statement read. “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.”