Pope Francis and President Donald Trump are both concerned about the health and well-being of an infant in Britain who is terminally ill. Charlie Gard is a ten-month-old baby who was born with a rare genetic disease that only 16 people in the whole world have had. The little boy was born deaf and blind on August 6, 2016. He is unable to breathe or move on his own. Britain's medical and legal officials are going against his parents, who are holding out for a cure.

The courts

The Great Ormond Street Hospital has been treating the baby since October 2016.

The institution has concluded that it can do no more for Charlie. Therefore, it requested permission from the court to remove Charlie from life support.

Not one, but four different courts agreed with the London hospital and rejected the parents' request to hear their case that the hospital is violating their son's right to life. The parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, want to take their son to the United States where they believe he will have a better chance of improving with an experimental treatment.

Pope Francis speaks

Last Sunday night, Pope Francis spoke out about the situation. According to Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, the Pope has been following the case closely. It was reported that Pope Francis is praying that the parents' desire to care for their son to the end is not ignored.

President Trump tweets

President Donald Trump expressed his view on the matter. He tweeted on Monday that if the United States can do anything to help little Charlie Gard, the country will.

About the infant

Charlie's parents have been fighting a long, emotional, and expensive legal battle to keep him alive after he was born with encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS).

The rare condition is typically fatal in infancy and early childhood. People have been very supportive in terms of helping them financially. The Gards have raised about $1.7 million to help finance experimental treatment in the United States.

The Great Ormond Street Hospital believes it has acted in the best interest of the child.

The courts agree with the hospital because they believe the child is suffering while the parents are fighting to keep him alive.

The hospital has not said when it intends to take Charlie off of life support. However, the institution did submit a detailed statement in reference to the ethical and medical reasons for not allowing the patient to travel to the United States. The hospital cited that there is no cure for the baby's condition, and that the United States would not be able to improve Charlie's quality of life because his condition is terminal. The parents are making arrangements to say a final goodbye to their son.