Yet Another Major Twist in Pope Francis' Trip to America: He Reportedly Met Privately With a Gay Couple

In yet another twist surrounding Pope Francis' historic trip to the U.S., CNN is reporting that the pontiff held a private meeting with a gay couple just one day before he met with defiant Kentucky clerk Kim Davis and her husband.

Yayo Grassi — who has known Pope Francis for decades — and his long-time partner Iwan met with the pontiff for a brief visit on September 23, Grassi told CNN, though he declined to go into detail surrounding what they discussed.

"Three weeks before the trip, he called me on the phone and said he would love to give me a hug," Grassi said, telling CNN that he believes the pontiff was "misled" into a meeting with Davis.

Pope Francis blesses the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

A video shows Pope Francis embracing Grassi when they first saw one another last Wednesday at the Vatican embassy in Washington, D.C. The meeting was setup by the pope via email before his trip to the U.S, according to CNN.

Grassi has known Pope Francis since the pontiff taught him literature and psychology at a high school in Argentina back in 1964 and 1965; the two have remained friends, with Grassi saying that the pope has never judged him for his sexuality.

"He has never been judgmental. He has never said anything negative," he said. "Obviously he is the pastor of the church and he has to follow the church's teachings. But as a human being he understands all kinds of situations, and he is open to all kinds of people, including those with different sexual characteristics."

These claims follow a battle between liberals and conservatives over Davis' meeting with the pontiff.

While Davis claimed that Pope Francis encouraged her and thanked her for standing firm in her beliefs, the Vatican put out a statement on Friday saying that the encounter "should not be considered a form of support of her position."

“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,” read the Vatican statement from the Rev. Federico Lombardi, according to the Associated Press.

Paula Faris speaks to Kim Davis, the Kentucky court clerk who went to jail because she refused to issue gay marriage licenses. The exclusive interview will air on all ABC News programs and platforms. (Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images)

As TheBlaze previously reported, a statement issued by Davis' lawyers with the Liberty Counsel on Tuesday night said that Pope Francis met with Davis and her husband, Joe, on September 24, and that the pontiff spoke to the couple in English.

“Thank you for your courage,” the pope told Davis, according to the Liberty Counsel. “Stay strong.”

The statement said the two “embraced” and each asked for prayer. Expressing his gratitude to Davis, Francis also gave both Kim and Joe Davis each a rosary that he had blessed.

“I was humbled to meet Pope Francis. Of all people, why me? I never thought I would meet the pope,” Davis said in a statement. “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.”

Davis described Pope Francis as “kind, genuinely caring, and very personable.”

(H/T: CNN)