Rowan County clerk Kim Davis, who's been the primary object of the left's scorn for a number of weeks, met privately with Pope Francis during his recent trip to the U.S.  Her attorney, Mat Staver, confirmed the meeting in an email to me. 

As of this writing, the meeting is starting to be reported on by the mainstream media.

From Liberty Counsel:

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.

This is heartening news, particularly because the mainstream media have been portraying – and will likely continue to portray – Pope Francis as a liberal icon.  Granted, he's made a number of remarks that have appealed to liberals (while angering conservatives), but Bernie Sanders he ain't!

As to why the meeting was kept secret until now, Catholic journalist Dr. Robert Moynihan, who resides in Rome, writes:

The Vatican evidently feared the 'politicization' of a 'pastoral trip' which clearly wished to emphasize the encounter with Jesus Christ, with the poor, with the faithful, with the handicapped, with children, and with all Americans of whatever background.

But there was also, evidently, a desire to meet with a person who has taken a controversial stand out of conscience.

I understand the Vatican's reasoning, but at the same time, I wish the meeting had been prominently featured.