Gay Man Who Met Pope Francis in D.C. Describes Warm Welcome

Yayo Grassi has known the man who became Pope Francis for a half-century, since Grassi was a Jesuit student in high school in Argentina.

And, he says, the Holy Father's message of tolerance has been consistent throughout his lifetime.

"He ended up once saying, 'I can guarantee you Yayo, that in my service there is no place for homophobia,'" Grassi said.

Grassi, who is gay, brought his partner of 19 years to the Apostolic nunciature in Washington, D.C. to meet Pope Francis during the pope's historic U.S. visit.

The Holy Father welcomed both men and their friends warmly, embracing Grassi and his partner.

Grassi initially wasn't sure his former teacher would have time for a visit; the three-city U.S. trip had a full schedule. But the Pope made time.

"He was my professor in high school. He taught us Argentine literature and psychology," Grassi said.  "When I hear his speeches today, all I have to do is close my eyes, and it's like I am still in the classroom."

Then Grassi was reluctant to talk publicly about the meeting -- until Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for refusing to give marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in June -- said she had met with the pope at the nunciature. The nunciature functions as the Vatican embassy in Washington.

[[330521921, C]]

That revelation surprised some in the church, as did an interview that Davis did with ABC, in which she said the meeting indicated the pope is "on track with what we're doing."

The Vatican on Friday distanced Francis from Davis, saying his encounter with her was by no means an endorsement of her cause. In the same statement, the Vatican said the only real audience the pope had was with a former student. 

That student was Grassi.

And he wanted to make sure that the world knew his former professor the way he did. 

"He is an icon, a beacon of light in the world," Grassi said.