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Alfie Evans on April 23, 2018 hours before he was removed from his ventilator. Thomas Evans / Facebook screen-grab

Update April 23, 7:20 EST: Alfie Evans was removed from ventilation at 9:17 pm London time. The toddler has continued to breathe on his own. Alder Hey hospital has said it will release a statement with developments at 7 am local time (London). Please pray.

ROME, April 23, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — A video taken this evening by Alfie Evans’ father, Thomas, on what was supposed to be his execution day, shows the 23-month-old toddler responsive and alert, blinking and looking around the room. 

In the video, posted on Facebook at 6:40pm local time (London), Thomas Evans tells viewers that a hearing is to be held by conference call at 7:15 pm, with the Italian Ambassador to Great Britain, Judge Anthony Hayden, and Thomas Evans’ barrister present. 

“The Italian Ambassador is going to do all he can now to seek request of Alfie’s care, and try to have Justice Hayden allow Alfie to go,” Evans says. Earlier today, the Italian government granted Alfie citizenship in a bid to transfer him immediately to the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome.

“No one can promise that it’s going to happen, but Justice Hayden’s either going to either agree to life support being withdrawn, or he’s going to agree to let Alfie go to another country, today, as soon as today, as soon as the next couple of hours. We are going to have Alfie in the Vatican being treated,” he says.

Thomas Evans then tells supporters: “Now we pray hard that Justice Hayden releases Alfie, if not he’s going to be executed. So please pray. You can pray at home, pray in your car, pray at work, or come down to Alder Hey and pray peacefully and be respectful. I encourage everyone now to stand together for Alfie.” 

“Pray hard to protect this little innocent blessed child of ours. He’s absolutely amazing,” he says, adding that Alfie has been much more alert and lively today.

Pope Francis tweeted this evening in clear support of Alfie and his parents, saying: “Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.”