Pope expresses closeness to Charlie Gard's parents; Bambino Gesu hospital statement

Jul 3rd, 2017

Pope Francis has expressed his "affection and emotion" at the situation of Charlie Gard and "his own closeness to his parents".

A statement from Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, yesterday said the Pope prays for 10-month old Charlie Gard's parents and hopes "that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end is not ignored."

Charlie was born with a rare genetic condition called mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

The European Court of Human Rights last week rejected a plea from the baby's parents to be allowed to move him to the United States for experimental medical treatment.

Please find below a Vatican Radio English translation of the full statement:

"The Holy Father follows with affection and emotion the case of little Charlie Gard and expresses his own closeness to his parents. For them he prays, hoping that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end is not ignored."

Mariella Enoc, President of the Vatican-owned Bambino Jesus pediatric hospital,said the hospital is ready to receive Charlie Gard in Rome, if his parents so wish and if his State, allows it.

In a press release in Italian on Monday, she quotes Pope Francis' June tweet: "Defend human life, especially when it is wounded by sickness, is a commitment of love that God entrusts to every man."

"The Holy Father's words, regarding little Charlie, summarize well the mission of the Bambino Gesu hospital. That is why I asked the Health Director to verify with London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the newborn is hospitalized, if the health conditions exist for Charlie's eventual transfer to our hospital. We know that the case is desperate and that, apparently, effective therapies do not exist."

Enoc expressed her closeness to Charlie's parents saying: "We are close to the parents through prayer and, if they so desire, we are ready to receive their child in our hospital for the time that remains to him to live."

See earlier reports - ICN 29 June 2017 - Church comments on final ruling on treatment of baby Charlie Gard www.indcatholicnews.com/news/32888

and the statement from the Pontifical Council for Life Issues:

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/29/vaticans_academy_for_life_issues_statement_on_charlie_gard/1322138