Bishop asks for prayers for Alfie Evans after court upholds travel ban

Source: Vatican Media

The Bishop of Carpi, who is coordinating between the family of Alfie Evans and the Vatican Children's Hospital that has offered to care for the terminally ill child, has asked for prayers following a British Supreme Court ruling that upholds a previous ban on allowing the boy to be transferred to Italy.

Britain's Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a mother and father who want to take their terminally ill toddler to the Vatican's Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital for treatment.

Speaking during the General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope called for prayers for Alfie and for the respect of all human lives.

The bishops of England and Wales have also called for Alfie's family to be accompanied in their suffering. In a statement, the bishops affirmed the "professionalism and care for severely ill children shown at Alder Hey Hospital".

Meanwhile, Bishop Francesco Cavina of Carpi, who informs the Holy See and coordinates relations between the Evans family and the Bambino Gesù Hospital, has asked Catholics to join in prayer.

In a post on social media, Bishop Cavina said "Only the power of prayer is able to melt hearts and crumble walls that now appear insurmountable".