Pope Francis involved prayers for two critically ill people at the center of “life issues” debates in England and France. He comments came after praying the noonday Regina Coeli in St. Peter’s Square with a large crowd gathered in the rain.
“I entrust to your prayer persons such as Vincent Lambert in France, little Alfie Evans in England, and others in several countries who live, sometimes for a long time, in a state of grave illness, assisted medically for their primary needs<‘ the Holy Father said. ”
“They are delicate situations, very painful and complex. Let us pray so that every sick person is always respected in his dignity and cared for in a way adapted to his condition, with the harmonious contribution of the family, of doctors and of other health workers, with great respect for life.”
The case of Alfie Evans pits parents against hospital in a legal battle over whether care should be continued. The Lambert case involves a debate over whether a severely disabled patient should be allowed to die as a result of lack of food and water.
