The Holy Father prays for little Indi on the day of her funeral

Pope Francis expressed his “condolences” and “spiritual closeness” to Dean and Claire, the parents of Indi Gregory, and “to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God”. Eight-month-old British girl, Indi, died last month after a long legal battle. She was affected by a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease, and died on 13 November after her life support was removed. In a telegram addressed to Bishop Patrick Joseph McKinney of Notthingham, on 1 December, the day of Indi’s funeral, the Holy Father wrote that he was “saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory”. The message, signed by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continued: “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.” The Pope likewise prays, the telegram 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”.