If you have been following the Alfie Evans saga, you know how delicate and crazy this case has been.
The breaking news today is that the latest appeal by the Evans family was denied, which caused protesters to rush the hospital in hopes of preventing Alfie’s life support from being pulled.
Shortly after that decision and subsequent chaos, Italy granted citizenship to Alfie Evans, adding a new hope for his family and followers. Foreign Minister,Angiolino Alfano, and interior minister, Marco Minnitti granted Alfie citizenship in hopes that he could be transferred to Italy.
“The Italian government hopes that being an Italian citizen will allow for the child’s immediate transfer to Italy,” the statement reads.
‘Pray Hard’: Vatican Hospital ‘Ready to Take Alfie Immediately,’ According to Dad Tom Evans
The father of Alfie Evans, Tom, has said that the Vatican is ready to take his son into its care “immediately.” This comes following Tom’s personal meeting with Pope Francis last week, during which he pleaded with the pontiff to “save our son.”
La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, stated that the decision to grant Alfie citizenship was made by Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Italian national conservative party.
“It’s one of those days that you remember that politics can make you do great things. As a mother, as an Italian and as a party president, I warmly thank Prime Minister Gentiloni and the ministers Alfano and Minniti for having accepted my appeal and for having decided to grant Italian citizenship to Alfie Evans: this will open a window of opportunity to allow the child to come to Italy and be welcomed in one of our hospitals,” Meloni said.
‘Let God Decide’: Pope Sides With Evans Family, Declares He ‘Wants Alfie in His Country’
Thomas Evans took to Facebook to update “Aflie’s Army” on the situation.
“Alfie has been granted Italian citizenship, we await for the foreign minister to call Borris [sic] Johnson. Alfie belongs to Italy,” Thomas Evans wrote.
“The president of Bambino Gesú called me in for a meeting. She wants to take Alfie as soon as tomorrow and will do everything for him,” Evans explained, reported by the Liverpool Echo. “Even if we find a diagnosis they will continue to search for a cure. She even wanted to come and meet him herself and still does. She was such a lovely woman and said they will do everything they can for Alfie as they would with any other.”
Despite the change in citizenship, doctors at the UK hospital are still trying to withdraw little Alfie’s life support. They proposed turning off the life support at 1:30 pm today, but have not yet.
A group of 200 supporters gathered at the hospital today to attempt to enter the building. They were blocked by police but continued to shout “Save Alfie Evans” even when outside.
BREAKING: Supreme Court Rejects Alfie Evans Final Appeal, Enabling Hospital to Turn off Life Support
Earlier today, an ECHR spokesman defended the actions of the hospital saying: “The European court of human rights has rejected the application submitted by the family of Alfie Evans as inadmissible.”
The Evans couple has now lost their case in the high court, the court of appeal, supreme court and the European court of human rights.
Each judge ruled that Alfie’s life could not be saved and that no form of treatment would help. The most recent case was heard this past Friday, April 20 at the Supreme Court level. The three supreme court judges agree with the past rulings and Alfie’s doctors, saying “there is no hope of him getting better”.
In their statement, the judges stated that doctors at the hospital should not delay withdrawing life support, saying “The hospital must be free to do what has been determined to be in Alfie’s best interests.”
Earlier today, Evans posted a video to the “Alfie’s Angels” group pleading for prayer.
Evans said Aflie’s life “hangs in the balance over the next couple of hours”. He said: “Please come to Alder Hey and pray. Make sure it’s peaceful.”