Archbishop who was excommunicated once invited Kentucky's Kim Davis to meet the Pope

Carlo Maria Viganò, an Italian archbishop and former papal ambassador to the United States who became a major critic of Pope Francis, has been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church for schism, and he has ties to the Bluegrass State.

Viganò once organized a controversial meeting between Pope Francis and Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in 2015. Here's what we know.

Who is Kim Davis?Clerk refuses to give marriage forms to same-sex couples

Carlo Maria Viganò excommunicated from Roman Catholic Church

Viganò was excommunicated Friday after long questioning the legitimacy of Pope Francis and the authority of the Second Vatican Council, the Vatican announced Friday.

Viganò resigned as ambassador to the United States in 2016.

Pope Francis meets with Kentucky's Kim Davis in 2015

According to previous reporting from The Courier Journal, Pope Francis met with Davis in 2015 when visiting the U.S. The Rowan County Clerk spent five nights in jail when refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Learn more from The Courier Journal at the links below.

Previous coverage about Kim Davis

▶ Vatican confirms Kim Davis-Pope meeting

▶ Papal envoy in Kim Davis meeting retires

▶ Bishops applaud official behind Pope-Davis meet

▶ Pope met with gay man, partner in Davis twist

▶ Kentucky's Kim Davis might have played a role in Vatican infighting

▶ Vatican begins push-back against ex-ambassador over Kim Davis

▶ Kim Davis, Kentucky clerk who denied same-sex marriage licenses, ordered to pay up