Pope Francis calls on hospital to respect parents wish to care for sick son 'to the end'

Pope Francis has backed Charlie Gard's parents' desire to care for their sick baby boy "to the end", saying he hopes their wishes will not be ignored.

This comes as Charlie's parents,Chris Gard and Connie Yates, lost their legal battle to fly him to the USA for experimental therapy trial .The court ordered the life support to be turned off as specialists at the hospital said the treatment was experimental and would not help..

The 10-month-old, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, has been at the centre of a lengthy legal battle that has made headlines around the world.




A statement issued by the Vatican on Pope Francis' behalf read

 "The Holy Father follows with affection and commotion the situation of Charlie Gard, and expresses his own closeness to his parents.
“He prays for them, wishing that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end will be respected.”

They released an emotional video last week saying they had been told Charlie would die on Friday.

They said they had been denied their final wish to be able to take their son home to die and felt "let down" after losing their legal fight.

They later announced that they had been given more time before Charlie's life support is switched off.


Daily Mirror