Pope Will Replace Priest Who Arranged Meeting With Kim Davis

By Matthew Tharrett
newnownext
March 15, 2016

http://www.newnownext.com/pope-will-replace-priest-who-arranged-meeting-with-kim-davis/03/2016/

The priest who set up a meeting between Pope Francis and disgraced Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis during the Pontiff’s visit to the United States last year will soon be replaced, the Washington Post reports.

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò is a staunch conservative and was vocally opposed to same-sex marriage throughout his five-year tenure as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States.

He stirred controversy for arranging the meeting between the Pope and Davis, who spent five days in jail last summer for refusing to obey federal law and issue same-sex marriage licenses, in September without the Pope’s prior approval.

A friend of the Pope’s claimed he was blindsided by the meeting, and the move caused the Vatican to distance itself from Viganò, leading many to believe the Pope would quietly replace him as his “statutory retirement age” was approaching.

Viganò’s replacement will reportedly be Archbishop Christophe Pierre, a 70-year-old diplomat for the Catholic Church who’s previously served as nuncio to Uganda, Haiti, and Mexico. The Holy See is expected to make an official announcement as soon as the White House confirms his appointment.