Congressman Bob Brady gave Pope Francis an American flag as a trade for his water

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In a new interview, Representative Bob Brady said that he gave Pope Francis the American flag flown over the Capitol for his visit
The pope allegedly told Brady it was a 'good trade'
Brady, a devout Catholic and Democrat representing Pennsylvania, also claimed that he got permission to take the cup
After the pope's speech, he drank from the cup, gave some of the water to his wife and staffers and then bottled the rest for his grandchildren
He did the same thing at President Obama's inauguration

By Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com and Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:21 EST, 28 September 2015 | Updated: 19:03 EST, 28 September 2015

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The U.S. representative who made headlines after nabbing the glass of water Pope Francis drank out of during his Congressional address has spoken out to say he did not steal the cup and that he gifted the pope an American flag as a trade.

U.S. Representative Bob Brady, a devout Catholic, also confessed that this isn't the first time he's taken a glass as a souvenir.

Brady, a devout Catholic and Democratic representing Pennsylvania , was in the House Chambers on Thursday when the pope gave a speech during a joint meeting with the House and Senate. After the papal address, Brady walked up to the center podium and grabbed the pope's glass. He then took it back to his office, where he took a sip from it, gave some to his wife, and then bottled the rest of the water to bless his grandchildren later.

In an interview with Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Brady claimed that he got permission from the to take the cup after the pope's speech last week.

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Swap: Pennsylvania Rep Bob Brady, the congressman who took Pope Francis' glass of water, met with the pope again over the weekend and gifted him an American flag

Holy water: On Thursday, the pope spoke before Congress and after the speech, Rep Brady walked up tot he podium and took the glass of water. He said he got permission to take the cup

'I asked the Parliamentarian if I could take the glass and he nodded and said "sure, it’s only going to go back into the kitchen and get washed up." I didn’t swipe it. I did ask for permission and I am going to get a bill for it. So, I’m going to pay for it.

But with all the press surrounding the glass, Brady wanted the pope to know that he wasn't a thief. So when he crossed paths with the pontiff over the weekend in Philadelphia, where the pope gave a massive mass for one million people, Brady offered him a gift in exchange.

'What I said to him, I don’t know whether you heard or not, but I’m the Congressman that took your water glass. He said, yeah, I did hear a little bit about that through his interpreter.

'I said, by the way, I wanted to make an even swap, I have a flag that was flown over the United States Capitol in your honor, and I want to give that to you for the glass. He said, good, good, good swap. Bueno, bueno,' Brady recalled.

Sharing: Rep. Brady shared with his wife Debra (above), and plans to use the rest to sprinkle on his grandchildren

Messiah: Brady poured the liquid into the mouths of others rather than letting them hold the glass and had his staff send out the photos (above with constituent Ernie DeNofa)

Helping hand: Brady shares the water with Colleen Carlos (above), his assistant

The Democratic representative also said that this wasn't the first time that he's taken a glass from a famous speech. He says he did the same thing when President Obama was inaugurated. He was on stage for the historic moment as the Chariman of the House Adminsitration.

'I saw him drink from the glass and then everybody, en masse, ran off the stage and the glass was sitting there. So, I picked it up. I got Obama’s glass.

'So naturally, when the Pope was out, I watched him drink three or four times from the glass. I said, I’m going to go get that,' he said.

News that Brady had taken the pope's class broke the day after the pope's speech before Congress, when his office released pictures of him sipping the cut and administering it to his wife.

'The congressman is a Catholic and has immense respect for the Holy Father,' Chief of Staff Stan White told ABC News.

White added that Representative Brady 'was immensely moved by the speech. He thought the Holy Father spoke to issues he cared deeply about ... especially caring about the poor and the Holy Father's concern about our environment.'

He also shared some of the water with members of his staff and assistant, also a devout Catholic.

As for the saved water, he plans to sprinkle it on his grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Brady said he had saved the cup and would have police dust it for fingerprints to prove it was used by Pope Francis.