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Alfie Evans Again Blocked–As an Italian Citizen–From Going to Seek Treatment in Italy

Another Appeal of Parents Is Rejected

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On Wednesday, April 25, the British court again rejected, a new appeal from parents of a Alfie  Evans, the ill toddler in the UK, was given Italian citizenship and two hospitals are ready to welcome him for treatment in Rome. Still, Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool removed his life support the on April 23, 2018 — and a day later the UK’s highest court has ruled that the child cannot be taken out of the country.
Many are stressing that this is completely unjust. Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a Tweet: “Alfie Evans must be saved! His brave little body has proved again that the miracle of life can be stronger than death.” The President of European Parliament also lent his support.
Regardless, the judges insist that their decisions are in the ‘best interest’ of Alfie. The fact that Alfie has been breathing on his own for days, when the hospital said he would have died in minutes, does not seem to be being considered.
At the last minute, when the 23-month-old Briton Alfie Evans was to be «unplugged» by Liverpool Hospital on April 23, 2018,  Vatican media reported that Italy had granted him Italian citizenship.
The government hopes that this will allow baby Alfie’s transfer to the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù in Rome, which, with Pope Francis’ request, offers its support.
«Foreign Ministers Angelino Alfano and Interior Minister Marco Minniti granted naturalization to little Alfie. In this way, the Italian government wants the Italian citizenship to enable the child’s immediate transfer to Italy,» said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The unexpected news comes as the protests continue in front of Liverpool Hospital, where Alfie’s parents have been granted a few hours of reprieve from their son, who has been suffering from an unknown neurodegenerative disease , and which was to be disconnected at 2 p.m. local time.
Mariella Enoc, president of Bambino Gesù Hospital, went to Alfie’s parents’ home, but could not be received by the hospital authorities. They refused to speak to her or to let her in.
«The Holy Father has asked me to do what is possible and what is impossible for Alfie,» Mariella Enoc said yesterday in an interview with Vatican News.
In an exclusive interview with Zenit after being received by Pope Francis on April 18, Alfie’s father, Thomas, had confided that he hoped for his son to be granted Italian citizenship in order to be able to transfer him to Bambino Gesù, who proposed to welcome and take care of him.
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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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