Pete Buttigieg went to Jimmy Carter's Sunday school class and the former president invited him to read from the Bible

Paul Newberry/AP

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, right, and his husband, Chasten Glezman, left, speak with former President Jimmy Carter Sunday, May 5, 2019 at former President Jimmy Carter's Sunday school class in Plains, Georgia.

• Mayor Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, on Sunday went to former President Jimmy Carter's Sunday school class.
• The South Bend mayor said he was "humbled" to meet with Carter at his church in Plains, Georgia.
• Buttigieg had lunch with Carter after the class.
• In a tweet, Buttigieg described Carter as a "true public servant and America is blessed for his continuing leadership."

Mayor Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, visited Jimmy Carter's Sunday school class in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, and then had lunch with the former president.

The South Bend mayor said he was "humbled" to meet with Carter, who has also hosted other 2020 Democratic candidates at his Sunday school class like Sens. Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar.

Carter invited Buttigieg to stand and read from the Bible to those attending the class at Maranatha Baptist Church in south Georgia, the Associated Press reported.

In an apparently jocular reference to Buttigieg, the report said Carter at one point elicited laughter from the crowd when he said, "You know him?"

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Buttigieg's visit was unnanounced and some questioned who he was when he entered the room. In response, one attendee reportedly said, "Mayor Pete, the guy running for president."

In a tweet after their meeting, Buttigieg said, "I was humbled to meet with President Carter in Plains, Georgia today. He is a true public servant and America is blessed for his continuing leadership."

Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, in a separate tweet said the two had "a lovely visit" to Plains.

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Buttigieg in the past several months has gone from being relatively unknown to among the most serious contenders for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, garnerning non-stop media attention as he's climbed up the polls.

The South Bend mayor, who an openly gay and an Episcopalian Christian, has often discussed his faith along the campaign trail - at one pointing taking a jab at Vice President Mike Pence's anti-LGBTQ stances and rhetoric.

Buttigieg has also faced anti-gay heckling as he's campaigned, but has shrugged it off.