ROME - Mariella Enoc, president of Bambino Gesù Paedriatric Hospital, has offered to treat terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard at the Rome hospital.

“We are close to Charlie’s parents in our prayers,” Mariella Enoc said, “and we are ready to welcome their child at our hospital, if this is their wish, for what remains of his life”. She announced that she has asked her Chief Medical Officer to research and discuss with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where the 10-month-old is currently being treated, what conditions would be necessary for the potential transfer to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome.  

Pope Francis has also been following Charlie’s case closely, according to Greg Burke of the Sala Stampa Vaticana. Francis wrote in reference to Charlie’s case on Twitter that “to defend human life, above all when it is wounded by illness, is a duty of love that God entrusts to all’, words which “sum up the mission of the Bambino Gesù hospital” according to Enoc. The pope later called upon Great Ormond Street to respect Charlie’s parents’ wishes, after it was revealed that the London Hospital is planning to turn off his life support against their will.

The parents have been engaged in a lengthy battle for the control over the care of their child, who suffers from the rare condition mitochondrial depletion syndrome as well as suffering from severe brain damage. On Tuesday, his parents lost their final legal appeal to take him to the US for experimental treatment on the premises that a prolongation of Charlie’s life will lead to further suffering. They have also been denied their wish to be able to Charlie home to die, with Great Ormond Street insisting he must remain in hospital. 

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