Embattled Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis—who was thrust into the spotlight after she defied the courts in her refusal to legitimise same-sex marriages by not issuing wedding certificates to gay couples—was reported to have been granted a private meeting with Pope France inside the Vatican embassy in Washington D.C. during the pontiff's visit to the US last week.

Reverend Franklin Graham said this meeting only goes to show how much Pope Francis values religious freedom.

"I'm thrilled the Pope had this meeting and it sends a very strong signal that he supports religious freedom," he told Newsmax TV. "Christians need to be protected from these new laws that are coming out that are discriminating against... and forcing Christians to do things against their conscience and go against the teaching of the Bible."

Davis was jailed for six days when she kept on refusing to issue marriage certificates to gay couples. But even though she received tons of backlash and ridicule, Davis also earned the support and respect of devoted Christians. During her meeting with Pope Francis, the latter reportedly told her to "stay strong."

Graham stressed that homosexuality is "a sin against God," but clarified that Christians should not go about criticising people from the LGBTQ community.

"I'm not here to bash you or anything like that. I'm just here to tell you the truth — that this is what the Bible teaches and all of us are sinners and I'm a sinner," he said. "But we have to turn from our sins, repent, and believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God will forgive our sins and he will heal our hearts.

"And for the Pope to meet with Kim Davis sends a very strong signal that he supports Kim Davis and what she was standing for and I'm glad he did that," he added.