The Pope puts a copter on standby

A MILITARY helicopter is on standby at the Pope’s request, to ferry Alfie Evans to a Vatican hospital for treatment, lawyers for his parents revealed yesterday.

Pope Francis, who met the child’s father Tom Evans last week, has said the parents should be allowed to ‘seek new forms of treatment’ for their son, who was granted Italian citizenship on Monday.

Barrister Paul Diamond told the Court of Appeal the Pontiff had lined up top surgeons to care for the toddler.