WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for a Kentucky clerk at the center of the U.S. gay marriage debate say the Vatican ambassador to Washington helped arrange her meeting with Pope Francis last week.

The Liberty Counsel says in a statement that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano personally spoke with Kim Davis about the invitation to meet with the pope during his trip to the United States. The Vatican has declined to say who had invited Davis.

“The private meeting request was unsolicited and facilitated by Vatican officials,” says the statement from Liberty Counsel.

The meeting created controversy following the pope’s visit.

Davis rose to prominence for refusing to issue all marriage licenses rather than be compelled to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

Vigano has strongly taken up the religious liberty charge championed by U.S. bishops.

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