Kim Davis says her accidental Pope Francis meeting will inspire others to defy marriage laws

Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis recently claimed her meeting with Pope Francis was important to foes of gay marriage and to the government clerks who will inevitably follow in her footsteps by denying licenses to same-sex couples.

In video captured by Right Wing Watch, Davis described her meeting with the pontiff tearfully, saying they held hands and that he told her, "I want to thank you for your courage, and I want you to pray for me."

Davis said in an interview earlier this month with Catholic TV network EWTN reporter Catherine Szeltner that the meeting with Pope Francis was important to every person who "lives and loves God."

“The stand I took affects every church, every person that lives and loves God, that holds the word of God precious and dear and intimate in their lives,” Davis explained. “I’m just the first of what’s going to be very many. You can rest assured of that. And it’s not if it happens, it’ll be when it happens. And maybe my stand will encourage others who will be in the same position.”

The Vatican sought to downplay the October meeting, saying in a statement that the pope didn't even know who Kim Davis was. “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,” a Vatican spokesman explained.

To date, Davis has been the only government employee to have been jailed for refusing to her job since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage on June 27, 2015.

Watch the video below from Right Wing Watch: