Pope Francis sends condolences for Indi Gregory's funeral

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis has expressed his “condolences” and “spiritual closeness” to the parents of Indi Gregory, the eight-month year old British girl who died last month after a long legal battle.

In a telegram dated Friday, 1 December, the date of her funeral, Pope Francis wrote that he was “saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory”, and that he sent his condolences to “her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.”

The message, signed by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continues: “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,” the Pope concludes, “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.”

Legal battle

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 fought unsuccessfully 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.