Vatican Confirms Pope Met With Ky. Clerk Kim Davis

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis met with Kentucky clerk Kim Davis during his recent visit to the United States.

After hours of speculation, Vatican spokesperson the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed that Francis had met with Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis at the Vatican Embassy last Thursday during the pope's visit to the nation's capital.

Lombardi confirmed that the meeting took place but did not elaborate, telling reporters: "I do not deny that the meeting took place, but I have no other comments to add."

Davis' lawyer, Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, told the New York Times by phone that during the meeting, the pope gave Davis rosary beads and told the county clerk to "stay strong." Staver added that photographs were taken of the meeting.

Davis, who was arrested earlier this month for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses to same-sex couples, told Inside the Vatican that she and the pope hugged upon meeting.

"There was no interpreter. 'Thank you for your courage,' Pope Francis said to me. I said, 'Thank you, holy father.' I had asked a monsignor earlier what was the proper way to greet the pope, and whether it would be appropriate for me to embrace him, and I had been told it would be okay to hug him," Davis told the media outlet.

"So I hugged him, and he hugged me back. It was an extraordinary moment. 'Stay strong,' he said to me. Then he gave me a rosary as a gift, and he gave one also to my husband, Joe. I broke into tears. I was deeply moved," Davis added.