Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis says a private meeting with Pope Francis has inspired her -– and given her a renewed sense of purpose. 
 
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 “I was crying. I had tears coming out of my eyes,” Davis said in an exclusive interview with ABC News. “I'm just a nobody, so it was really humbling to think he would want to meet or know me.” 
 
 Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, says the private meeting occurred during the pope’s historic trip to the United States. After receiving a surprise phone call from a church official, the Kentucky county clerk says she traveled to Washington, D.C., where she and her husband Joe met the pope Sept. 24 at the Vatican Embassy. 
 
 “I put my hand out and he reached and he grabbed it, and I hugged him and he hugged me,” Davis said. “And he said, ‘thank you for your courage.’” 
 
 Father Benedettini from the Vatican Press office released a statement after reports emerged that Davis and the pope had met. 
 
 “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. There will be no further information given,“ the statement reads. 
 
 Hours later, Father Benedettini said, in another statement, “I do not deny that the meeting took place, but I will not comment on it further." 
 
 The Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. would also not elaborate, echoing the Vatican's latest statement. 
 
 Liberty Counsel 
 
 Davis drew national attention -– and spent six days in jail -– after refusing a judge's order to issue marriage licenses in Rowan County, Kentucky, to same-sex and heterosexual couples, citing her religious beliefs. 
 
 Davis, back at work, is still not issuing any marriage licenses. 
 
 ABC News' Terry Moran asked Francis Sunday night if he supports individuals, including government officials, who claim religious liberty as a reason to disobey the law. 
 
 Francis responded, "I can't have in mind all the cases that can exist about conscientious objection, but, yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right." 
 
 When asked if that includes government officials, Francis said, "It is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right. It is a human right." 
 
 Davis says Pope Francis left her and her husband with a rosary. 
 
 “He told me before he left, he said, ‘stay strong.’ That was a great encouragement. Just knowing that the pope is on track with what we're doing, it kind of validates everything to have someone of that stature,” Davis said. 
 
 Davis says she’s committed to her cause, even if it means more time behind bars. 
 
 “I've weighed the cost and I'm prepared to do whatever it takes, even jail,” she said. “It's still the same battle, we just have some more fighting with us now.” ||||| Pope also suggests Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for refusing marriage licences to gay couples, was denied her right to religious freedom 
 
 Pope Francis on clerical abuse: 'I do not judge those who are not able to forgive' 
 
 Pope Francis has said he understands why some victims of clerical sex abuse and their families could not forgive the church for the suffering they faced, saying such abuse was “almost a sacrilege”. 
 
 In remarks during a 47-minute press conference on his flight back to Rome after a tour of the US, the pope also sought to clarify controversial remarks he made to American bishops, when he congratulated them on their “courageous” handling of the sex abuse crisis. 
 
 He said he wanted to “express my compassion to them because a terrible thing happened and many of them have suffered because they did not know and when it came out they suffered a great deal. 
 
 “It’s a terrible thing and the words of comfort were not to say: ‘Don’t worry that was nothing’ … no, no, no. But it was so bad that I imagine that you cried hard … that was the sense of what I meant,” he said, according to a transcript. 
 
 The pope also suggested a Kentucky clerk’s recent refusal on religious grounds to issue marriage licences to gay couples was a question of religious freedom, saying conscientious objection was a “human right”. Kim Davis’s act of defiance became national news, with some conservatives comparing her act to civil disobedience endorsed by Martin Luther King in the civil rights era. 
 
 Asked by a reporter whether he supported government officials who said they could not in good conscience issue same-sex marriage licences, Francis said: “I do not recall all specific cases of conscientious objection. But what I can say, is that conscientious objection is a human right. And if a person does not allow others to be conscientious objectors, then they deny them a right.” 
 
 He then made a reference to the Song of Roland, an epic poem that describes the death of Charlemagne’s nephew Roland at the battle of Roncevaux. 
 
 “It always moved me when I read, and I read it many times, when the people were all in line and before them was the baptismal font and they had to choose between the baptismal font or the sword. They had to choose. They weren’t permitted conscientious objection. It is a right, and if we want to make peace we have to respect all rights,” he said. 
 
 The remarks about conscientious objectors seem to reflect Francis’s views on the importance of religious freedom, rather than gay marriage specifically. 
 
 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis spent five days in jail for rejecting marriage licences for gay couples. Photograph: Chris Tilley/Reuters 
 
 The pope did not discuss in detail his views on gay marriage rights while he was in the US, even though it is an important issue for many conservative Catholics. The church is vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage, but Francis only referred obliquely to the issue, saying there were “unprecedented changes” occurring in the family. In discussions about family and church issues, Francis focused most of his comments on the need for the church to reach out and act in kindness and love. 
 
 The papal press conference on the return leg of the pope’s historic trip to the US touched on diverse topics, from the pope’s impressions of the country, the migrant crisis in Europe, new rules that simplify marriage annulments, his happiness about the Colombian agreement with Farc, and his hopes to visit and establish relations with China. 
 
 But his most expansive remarks were on the topic of abuse. He recalled once meeting an abuse survivor who told him that her mother swore at God when she discovered that her daughter had been abused, and became an atheist. 
 
 “I understand that woman,” Francis said. “And God, who is even more good, understands her … I do not judge those who are not able to forgive,” he said. 
 
 When asked to turn his focus to the plight of tens of thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East who are making their way to Europe for refuge, Francis said it was a crisis that was a long time in the making. 
 
 “When I think of Africa – perhaps this is a bit simplistic – I think of it as an exploited continent,” he said. “That is where they went to get slaves from, then they went for its great resources and, now, there are wars, tribal or not. But they have economic interests behind them,” he said. 
 
 Francis endorsed greater investment in Africa to spur job growth – a development that he said could have prevented the crisis. 
 
 Asked about countries erecting barbed wire fences to keep migrants out, he said: “You know what happens to all walls. All of them. All walls fall. Today, tomorrow or in 100 years, they will fall. It’s not a solution.” 
 
 Just days before the start of a special meeting of bishops who are exploring the church’s handling of family issues, Francis said new rules that speed up the Catholic annulment process did not amount to “Catholic divorce”. 
 
 While the main focus of the synod – at least in public discussion about it – has focused on the question of whether remarried Catholics could receive communion, Francis said it was “a bit simplistic” to say the only solution was accessing communion. 
 
 He said any number of problems faced modern marriage, including whether people were emotionally mature enough for the commitment, and young people who no longer wished to get married. 
 
 “Catholic divorce does not exist. Nullity is granted if the union never existed. But if it did, it is indissoluble,” he said. 
 
 Francis praised the role of women in the US church – saying that an important US government figure had told him the education he received was thanks to them. But he reiterated his absolute objection to women becoming priests, even though “church women are more important than men, because the church is a woman”. 
 
 Asked about the US, the pope said he was surprised by people’s warmth and the different receptions he received in Washington, which was warm but formal; New York, which was overflowing; and Philadelphia, where people were “expressive”. 
 
 Pope Francis scorecard: liberals take away biggest wins from pontiff's US visit Read more 
 
 “Thanks to God it all went well. There were no provocations, no insults, nothing unpleasant happened,” he said. 
 
 The challenge for the church there, he said, was to remain “close to the people”, not removed from them. 
 
 Asked about the rapturous response he received in the US, where thousands of people greeted and cheered the pontiff and his six-day trip was the subject of wall-to-wall coverage on the cable news networks, the pope indicated such attention was likely to be short-lived. 
 
 
 
 “How many stars have we seen go out and fall. It is a fleeting thing. Instead, being ‘servant of the servants of God’ does not pass,” he said. ||||| Sep 29, 2015 
 
 Washington, DC – Media is buzzing about the Pope’s comments in support of conscientious objection and whether he knows about the Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk of Court who was jailed for six days for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The Pope met privately with Kim Davis and her husband, Joe, at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 24, which was the birthday of Kim’s father. Pope Francis spoke with Kim and Joe Davis in English. 
 
 During the meeting Pope Francis said, "Thank you for your courage." Pope Francis also told Kim Davis, "Stay strong. He held out his hands and asked Kim to pray for him. Kim held his hands and said, "I will. Please pray for me," and the Pope said he would. The two embraced. The Pontiff presented Kim and Joe Davis each with a Rosary that he personally blessed. Kim's mother and father are Catholic, and Kim and Joe will present the Rosaries to her parents. Kim's mother was the elected Clerk of Court for Rowan County for 37 years until her retirement in 2014. 
 
 Kim Davis said, "I was humbled to meet Pope Francis. Of all people, why me?" Davis continued, "I never thought I would meet the Pope. Who am I to have this rare opportunity? I am just a County Clerk who loves Jesus and desires with all my heart to serve him." Kim said, "Pope Francis was kind, genuinely caring, and very personable. He even asked me to pray for him. Pope Francis thanked me for my courage and told me to 'stay strong.'" 
 
 "The challenges we face in America regarding the sanctity of human life, marriage, and religious freedom are the same universal challenges Christians face around the world. Religious freedom is a human right that comes from God. These values are shared in common by people of faith, and the threats to religious freedom are universal. Kim Davis has become a symbol of this worldwide conflict between Christian faith and recent cultural challenges regarding marriage," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. 
 
 Speaking with reporters on board the Papal plane to Rome, Pope Francis told Terry Moran of ABC News that conscientious objection is a human right, even for government officials: "Conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right. Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right, a human right. Otherwise we would end up in a situation where we select what is a right, saying 'this right that has merit, this one does not.' It (conscientious objection) is a human right. It always moved me when I read, and I read it many times, when I read the "Chanson de Roland" when the people were all in line and before them was the baptismal font and they had to choose between the baptismal font or the sword. They had to choose. They weren't permitted conscientious objection. It is a right and if we want to make peace we have to respect all rights." 
 
 The ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent asked if that includes government officials as well, and the Pope reiterated that conscientious objection is a human right: "It is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right," Pope Francis affirmed. 
 
 After the above statement of Pope Francis was published, some in the media wondered if the Pontiff knew of Kim Davis. "Not only did Pope Francis know of Kim Davis, he personally met with her to express his support," concluded Staver. 
 
 Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. 
 
 ### ||||| ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE Pope Francis said on Monday government officials have a "human right" to refuse to discharge a duty, such as issuing marriage licenses to homosexuals, if they feel it violates their conscience. 
 
 Speaking to reporters as he returned home from a 10-day trip to the United States and Cuba, Francis also repeated his condemnation of priests who had sexually abused children, saying the victims had been "crushed by evil". 
 
 Although the Argentine-born pontiff delved into some of the United States' thorniest political debates during his visit, he never specifically referred to a controversy over same-sex marriages, which the Church firmly opposes. 
 
 On the flight back to Rome, he was asked if he supported individuals, including government officials, who refuse to abide by some laws, such as issuing marriage licenses to gays. 
 
 "Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right," Francis said. 
 
 Earlier this month a county official in the state of Kentucky, Kim Davis, went to jail because she refused to issue a marriage license to a gay couple following a Supreme Court decision to make homosexual marriage legal. 
 
 Davis's case has taken on national significance in the 2016 presidential campaign, with one Republican contender, Mike Huckabee, holding rallies in favor of Davis, a Apostolic Christian, who has since joined the Republican party. 
 
 "I can't have in mind all cases that can exist about conscientious objection but, yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right," he said, speaking in Italian. 
 
 "And if someone does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right," he added. 
 
 Francis said conscientious objection had to be respected in legal structures. "Otherwise we would end up in a situation where we select what is a right, saying: 'This right has merit, this one does not.'" 
 
 PRIESTLY BETRAYAL 
 
 In the hour-long, freewheeling talk that has become a trademark of his papacy, the pope returned to the problem of priestly abuse. On Sunday, he met five victims of sexual abuse and issued his most comprehensive condemnation of the crime. 
 
 On the plane, Francis said sexual abuse was not confined to the Church but it was worse when committed by men of religion. 
 
 "We know abuses are everywhere, in families, in the neighborhoods, in the schools, in the gyms, but when a priest abuses it is very grave because the vocation of the priest is to make that boy, that girl grow toward the love of God, toward maturity," he said. 
 
 "But instead (the victim) is crushed by evil and this is nearly a sacrilege because the priest has betrayed his vocation, the calling of the Lord," the pope said. 
 
 The pope had been fiercely criticized by abuse victims on Wednesday, after he initially addressed the scandal but did not utter the words "sexual abuse", and praised American bishops for their handling of the crisis. 
 
 Asked about barriers being but up in Europe to stop the influx of migrants, the pope said: "All walls collapse, today, tomorrow or after 100 years, but they will collapse. Walls are not a solution." 
 
 He said that while it was true that Europe was struggling in the face of a refugee crisis, the solution had to be found through dialogue. "Barriers last a short time or a long time, but the problem remains and with it, more hatred." 
 
 A reporter said the pope had become a "star" in the United States following his visit to Washington, New York and Philadelphia, and asked if this was good for the Church. 
 
 "The media uses this term, but there is another truth - how many stars have we seen go out and fall. It is a fleeting thing. Instead being a 'servant of the servants of God' does not pass," the pope said, referring to one of the titles of his office. 
 
 (This version of the story was corrected to change designation of Kim Davis to "county official in the state of Kentucky," from "city official" in paragraph six) 
 
 (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Tom Heneghan) ||||| Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. 
 
 Pope Francis appeared to weigh in on the side of anti-gay-marriage clerk Kim Davis, saying government workers have a "human right" to refuse to carry out a duty if they have a “conscientious objection.” 
 
 While returning from his visit to the U.S., the pontiff told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday that anyone who prevents others from exercising their religious freedom is denying them a human right. 
 
 His comments are likely to be seized upon by backers of Kentucky-based Davis, whose refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling — has turned into her into a folk hero among some on the religious right. 
 
 The pontiff was asked: “Do you … support those individuals, including government officials, who say they cannot in good conscience, their own personal conscience, abide by some laws or discharge their duties as government officials, for example when issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples?” 
 
 He did not refer specifically to Davis in his reply, saying: “I can’t have in mind all the cases that can exist about conscientious objection … but yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right.” 
 
 Francis added: “Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right, a human right. Otherwise we would end up in a situation where we select what is a right, saying, 'this right that has merit, this one does not.'”
– Pope Francis made news even while flying home to Rome after his US visit, weighing in on the issue of gay marriage with comments sure to please Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis. Asked whether government employees should be allowed to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the pope said yes, reports NBC News. "Conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right," said Francis, who did not mention the Davis case in particular. "It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right." Pressed on whether the principle does indeed apply to government workers, he elaborated: "It is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right. It is a human right." The comments will surely be seen as a boon for Davis—see the headline in the Huffington Post declaring that "The Pope Just Handed Kim Davis a Huge Win," for example. The Guardian has a more nuanced view, observing that "the remarks about conscientious objectors seem to reflect Francis’s views on the importance of religious freedom, rather than gay marriage specifically." In his hourlong talk with reporters, Francis also repeated his condemnation of abusive priests, reports Reuters. The victim "is crushed by evil and this is nearly a sacrilege because the priest has betrayed his vocation, the calling of the Lord." (Click for one columnist's reasoning as to why Davis should never have gone to jail.)