Before the General Audience, the pope met with Tom Evans for 20 minutes. He is the father of Alfie, the 23-month-old baby in England with an incurable degenerative disease.
A few days ago, the British justice system rejected the appeal Tom and his wife made to transfer their baby to the Vatican's Bambino Gesù hospital. English doctors say there is no cure and want to disconnect the devices that keep him alive.
TOM EVANS
Alfie Evans' Dad
'I want to thank you so much for letting me be here today and have the opportunity. I'm coming to you today to share with you the suffering that me and my family are going through. And can he speak for Alfie today? I know he spoke, but can he tell them the truth about the life, that it shouldn't be judged on medical, it should be judged by God and the life.'
Pope Francis gave them three rosaries: one for Tom, one for his wife and the other for his son. At the end, the pope closed with these words.
“I am moved by your courage.”
Later, in the General Audience, the pope asked for prayers for Alfie and Vincent Lambert, whose case has become a symbol of the fight against euthanasia in France.
POPE FRANCIS
“I would like to reiterate and strongly confirm that the only holder of life, from the beginning to the natural end is God and our duty is to do everything to preserve life.”
The pope made this appeal at the end of the weekly audience. He also asked everyone to pray for a few moments in silence for a respect for life.
POPE FRANCIS
“Let us think in silence and pray that there be respect for life for every person, especially for our two brothers. Let us pray in silence.”
It is not the first time that Pope Francis has publicly supported Alfie Evans' parents. He first did so on Twitter, later during the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday and finally during the General Audience.
