SW News: The head of the Pontifical Academy for Life Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia tweeted on Saturday that he was praying for 12-year-old British boy Archie Battersbee, who died earlier that day after doctors removed his life support, and his family. The top prelate said that “When the life of someone is decided by a court, humanity is defeated.”

Archbishop Paglia’s Twitter message comes a day after The Most Rev John Sherrington, the Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, called for Archie’s “inherent dignity as a person created in the image and likeness of God” to be recognized in his last moments.

Despite the long legal battle of his parents Paul Battersbee and Hollie Dance, the High Court allowed The Royal London Hospital to remove life support. The boy had been hospitalized since April 7 when he was found unconscious in their residence in Essex after allegedly taking part in an online challenge.

After doctors concluded that the boy was brain-stem dead-a condition where a person does not respond to stimulation and is not likely to regain consciousness-they decided to withdraw life support. But Archie’s parents challenged it legally. On June 13, the High Court gave a verdict that the boy was “dead” and so life-support could be withdrawn.

Although Paul and Hollie appealed the judgment, three justices at the Court of Appeal rejected the case. On July 28, the Supreme Court ruled out any intervention in the matter and ratified the Court of Appeal verdict. The boy’s parents also sought the help of the UN and the European Court of Human Rights but it was all in vain.

After Archie passed away at 12.15 PM local time, his mother told reporters “I’m the proudest mum in the world. Such a beautiful boy and he fought right until the very end.