RIP Indi Gregory - Funeral for the Baby denied Treatment in England - Pope Francis Sends a Telegram of Condolence
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Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence on the day of Indi Gregory’s funeral in Nottingham, England. Pope Francis said he “joins those gathered in thanking Almighty God for the gift of her all-too-short life.” The Vatican's children's hospital had offered to care for the baby and the Italian government gave her citizenship but the Engish court ruled against the parents wishes to send her to Rome. The parents arranged for the baptism of Indi just before she died.
Indi Gregory is the eight-month year old British baby girl who died last month after a long legal battle.
The telegram said:
His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory, and he sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.
Entrusting Indi into the tender and loving hands of our heavenly Father, his holiness joins those gathered for her funeral in thanking almighty God for the gift of her all-too-short life. He likewise prays that the Lord Jesus, who said to his disciples, “let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Mt 19:14), will grant abiding comfort, strength and peace to you all.
His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory, and he sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.
Entrusting Indi into the tender and loving hands of our heavenly Father, his holiness joins those gathered for her funeral in thanking almighty God for the gift of her all-too-short life. He likewise prays that the Lord Jesus, who said to his disciples, “let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Mt 19:14), will grant abiding comfort, strength and peace to you all.
The message, was signed by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The Italian government also offered to pay for the funeral expenses of the child.
Indi was affected by a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease, and was on life support at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, England.
She died on 1:45 AM on Monday, 13 November, after her life support was removed.
Her parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, had tried to overturn several court rulings on their daughter's treatment, which doctors said was only prolonging her suffering.
Her father told media that her family was hoping "to give Indi the best send-off we can."
"She’ll be with her musical lamb in the coffin", he added, referring to her favourite toy.
Bishops of England and Wales send message
In a statement on the day of Indi's death, bishops in England and Wales assured her parents of their prayers and “those of all the Catholic Community, including Pope Francis.”
“We believe that she will now share in the joy of heaven after her short life, which brought deep joy to her parents, who loved and protected her as a precious gift of God,” they wrote.
While thanking all who worked tirelessly to care for Indi at the Queen’s Medical Centre and at the hospice where she died, the bishops remarked that the legal battle between the NHS Trust and her parents “shows again the need for greater weight to be given to the parental voice in these complex and sensitive cases."
“We will continue to contribute to wider discussions on questions of when treatment becomes disproportionate to any possible benefit and the duty of the continuation of basic care, including assisted nutrition and hydration, to protect the good of every child,” the statement concludes.
Indi was affected by a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease, and was on life support at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, England.
She died on 1:45 AM on Monday, 13 November, after her life support was removed.
Her parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, had tried to overturn several court rulings on their daughter's treatment, which doctors said was only prolonging her suffering.
Her father told media that her family was hoping "to give Indi the best send-off we can."
"She’ll be with her musical lamb in the coffin", he added, referring to her favourite toy.
Bishops of England and Wales send message
In a statement on the day of Indi's death, bishops in England and Wales assured her parents of their prayers and “those of all the Catholic Community, including Pope Francis.”
“We believe that she will now share in the joy of heaven after her short life, which brought deep joy to her parents, who loved and protected her as a precious gift of God,” they wrote.
While thanking all who worked tirelessly to care for Indi at the Queen’s Medical Centre and at the hospice where she died, the bishops remarked that the legal battle between the NHS Trust and her parents “shows again the need for greater weight to be given to the parental voice in these complex and sensitive cases."
“We will continue to contribute to wider discussions on questions of when treatment becomes disproportionate to any possible benefit and the duty of the continuation of basic care, including assisted nutrition and hydration, to protect the good of every child,” the statement concludes.
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