Yayo Grassi, the gay former student of Pope Francis‘ who met with him last week, has claimed the meeting between Francis and Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was a set-up.
Speaking with Washington Post reporter EJ Dionne on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, Grassi insists the Pope knew the man at his side was his boyfriend.
“Oh absolutely, yes yes,” Grassi said. “In the video, that segment you just showed, when I introduced him to my boyfriend he said, ‘oh yes, of course, I remember you. We met in San Pietro.”
Asked how he felt about the meeting with Kim Davis, Grassi noted, “He basically was set up for this meeting with Mrs. Davis. I think that he was extremely surprised. I was very surprised and very suspicious from the very beginning that this was not something that came naturally from the Pope as an invitation. When things started to come out was when I realized… I think that I know who was behind this. And I honestly wouldn’t have said anything had it not been that the Vatican press office released that statement and somehow, the press got a hold of me.”
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Creig Stearne
Stupid is as stupid does.
John Malin
Yayo Grassi, good of you to come to his defense, but Francis is a big boy and needs to take responsibility for his own actions. Perhaps he should surround himself with more trustworthy advisors. No matter, the damage is done.
Bisexual-Transwoman
Of course this fool is going to claim that it was a set up when the pope and the Vatican knew fully well who that woman was.
Desert Boy
Papa Francisco is a Jesuit. Jesuits are very aware and informed about the world around them. Especially, vis a vis the USA. I have trouble believing he didn’t know who he was meeting.
animaux
Lying for the pope, at the expense of people like himself.
martinbakman
The “Pope’s Gay Friend”? Yeah, right!
In about 50 years from now, there might be an ABC sitcom called that.
Meanwhile,
Up yers Vatican. I don’t care or believe anything you say.
Kangol
Yeah, girl, like we believe that.
M J Martinez Crogan
Blah blah the cult leader speaks
Judy Rae Jackson
Doesn’t change a thing. The Pope will NEVER accept gay marriage. He made that crystal clear.
Curty
Pope doesn’t believe in gay rights, doesn’t think same sex couples should marry. There is nothing pro glbt about this pope than his language he uses is softer. He already condemned gay marriage again this week. I mean nothing left to report on this pope from a glbt stand point until he reforms its message and promotes gay rights as much as he advocates for the poor and climate change. Enough of this child sex offender apologist and harbor. Far as I’m concerned he along with others belong in jail!
SteveDenver
Was the pope’s CONDEMNATION OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE yesterday also a setup?
Harold Powell
The pope knows about the controversy and should speak for himself if he really does not support Kim Davis.
OzJosh
Oh, come on! The Vatican has tried to spin this a dozen different ways since the story leaked and provoked such negative reaction. Each successive attempt at spin has only further demonstrated how clueless they all are. And this is just the latest. I’d be more interested in knowing what Grassi plans to say to his dear friend who just sacked the priest who dared come out.
Curty
Pope has become more anti gay since this was released. They fired a gay priest then the pope slammed same sex marriage this week, don’t think its no coincidence.
patricklee5150
Lot of closed minded people on here. I am surprised by the hate spewed on here toward one of our own who is simply telling the truth about his friend….who happens to be the Pope. I believe him that the Pope did not know who Kim Davis was…and that she and her scarecrow husband were part of a group of “several dozen” people invited by the Vatican’s Ambassador to the U.S. (who happens to be like many of the U.S.Bishops…a homophobe….aka, closet case, self hater most likely)and he invited this horrid, brainless woman in an attempt to sabotage the Pope’s visit and try to make him look bad to his “progressive” admirers.
poppupz
The Catholic church spends as much money annually as the worlds top firms. They own real estate and priceless artifacts from around the world, collect billions annually and dont pay taxes, thus its never really known how much money they have. The church comes and does business. The pope generated milllions of dollars thia visit and he gets escorted about with his Liberace like lifestyle.
Curty
@poppupz: the irorny is Liberace was a Catholic and the pope is very privileged. Everything free.
Paul Di Benedetto
Of course!
RobvR
Well, he already believes in some entity which’s existence has never been proven so this comes as no surprise. The first comment on this article says it all.
DCFarmboy
@patricklee5150: I agree.