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WASHINGTON, September 29, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - Pope Francis had a secret meeting with Kim Davis, the Kentucky marriage clerk who went to jail for refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it goes against her Christian beliefs.

The Pope thanked Davis for her courage and told her to be strong. He then gave her and her husband rosaries and asked her to pray for him.

Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican first broke the news. Kim Davis' attorney is confirming the meeting took place, speaking with CBS News with details on the meeting. Vatican sources have reportedly confirmed it happened as well.

Apparently the Holy Father had been following Davis' story in the media and requested a meeting with her as a result. The Vatican didn't want to detract from the Pope's broader messages at his planned events, so they remained quiet about the meeting until after he departed from the United States.

On the trip back to Rome, Pope Francis strongly affirmed the right of government officials to resist being forced to support or facilitate same-sex "marriage," claiming such conscientious objection is a "human right."

UPDATE (8/30 — 8:39 a.m. ET): According to Reuters, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi is saying he won't confirm or deny the meeting took place.

UPDATE (8/30 — 3:30 p.m. ET): Watch Kim Davis discuss the meeting here.

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