Baby Indi Gregory's father pays tribute to his 'true warrior' in moving eulogy at the eight-month-old's funeral as the Pope 'thanks God for the gift of her all-too-short life'

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The father of tragic eight-month-old Indi Gregory told her funeral service she was a 'true warrior' for whom he would have gone 'into the pits of hell to fight' - as the Pope sent the bereaved family his condolences in a special message.

Indi, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, died on November 13 after UK High Court judges had ruled that it would not be in her best interests for the child to be flown to Italy for 'specialist treatment' for her rare and incurable mitochondrial disease.

Heartbroken parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth were joined by mourners for a beautiful farewell at Nottingham's St Barnabas Cathedral on Friday, the tot arriving in a white horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a train of Rolls Royces.

In a touching eulogy read out on his behalf, Mr Gregory said his daughter 'overcame so much' in her battle for life.

A message sent on behalf of the Pope ahead of the service thanked 'God for the gift of her all-too-short life' and expressed his 'condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness' with the family.

Indi Gregory died on November 13 after UK High Court judges ordered that she could not travel to Italy for care

Indi Gregory's mother, Claire Staniforth (centre), arrives at St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham for the eight-month-old's funeral

Indi Gregory's father Dean Gregory (front) carries the casket of his daughter into St Barnabas Cathedral for the funeral service

The young girl, eight months, was brought to the church in a white horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a train of silver Rolls Royces

The carriage bearing Indi Gregory arrives outside St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham as mourners watch on

The white carriage, adored with floral tributes and drawn by horses dressed in pink, drew up at St Barnabas Cathedral on Friday morning

One touching tribute left at the church, made up white carnations and pink roses, was arranged in the shape of a teddy bear

Messages left with the flowers featured heartbreaking tributes. One (left) read: 'RIP Indi, always will love you' while another from relatives (right) read: 'Go dance with the angels'

The carriage, pulled by white horses dressed in pink, arrived outside the cathedral on Friday morning, from where Indi's white casket was borne inside by a pair of pallbearers — including her father. 

Mourners stood by and wiped tears as Indi was carried inside, her casket so small it could be borne by two people.

In his written eulogy, Mr Gregory said his daughter had been 'not only beautiful, but strong and unique', adding: 'I just knew, from the start, she was very special.'

He continued: 'Yet it was her weakest point, her health problems, that distinguished lndi as a true warrior.

'lndi overcame so much...(her) determination to fight for a chance at life really inspired me.

'She had to fight to live from day one of her life. I was even willing to go down into the pits of hell to fight and to protect lndi.

'In a way I did, because the court system itself felt like being in hell to me.'

Mr Gregory thanked the Italian Government in his eulogy after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had granted Indi Italian citizenship in a bid to maximise her chances of being allowed to travel to Italy for ongoing care.

He continued: 'I truly believe it has been a battle of good versus evil. God put lndi on this earth with the mission to expose the evil in the world. He chose her because she was strong, beautiful and special.

'But now, this chapter of lndi's destiny is over. Her legacy, however, has only just begun.'

The eulogy was read out on his behalf by Canon Paul Newman.

The Pope expressed his grief for Indi's death in a message sent on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for the Vatican.

It read: 'His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory, and he sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.

'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.

'He likewise prays 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" (Matthew 19:14), will grant abiding comfort, strength and peace to you all.'

Dean Gregory speaks to mourners outside baby Indi's funeral following her service on Friday

Indi Gregory's heartbroken mother Claire Staniforth is embraced and comforted following her daughter's funeral service. She could be seen clutching an order of service

Mourners gather outside the cathedral ahead of the funeral service for eight-month-old Indi Gregory

Dean Gregory (left, partially obscured) carries Indi Gregory's casket out of St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham following her funeral service, which was led by Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham (right)

The order of service for the funeral of Indi Gregory is held outside St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham on the morning of the service

Indi's parents wrote a note to their daughter accompanying their flowers at her funeral. It reads: 'Taken far too soon, will never be forgotten, fly high - you're now one of heaven's angels'

Indi had been baptised in the weeks before her death. Mr Gregory told Christian news website the New Daily Compass: 'I have seen what hell is like and I want Indi to go to heaven.'

The service was presided by Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, who preached the homily and blessed Indi's casket with holy water and incense.

The Bishop said: 'We believe that Jesus has a very special place prepared in heaven for all children, and especially for those who, like baby Indi, die so young.

'Dean and Claire described baby Indi to me as a real fighter, as someone who really wanted to live and who, in her short eight months of life, battled through some challenging health issues.

'Although only 8 months old, Indi’s struggle for life from her hospital crib here in Nottingham touched the hearts of so many people here in the UK and in other parts of the world, especially in Italy, as did the example of her mum and dad in doing all they could to try and give her every chance to live.

'Indi’s short life serves to remind us of how precious life is, how precious every person is...that’s a wonderful legacy of Indi’s short life on earth.'

The service was also attended by a delegation from the Italian government, including Minister of Families Eugenia Roccella and Minister of Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli after it had vowed to support the family's fight for Indi's life.

They were to present a book to Indi's family towards the conclusion of the funeral service, according to the order of service.

Floral wreaths were laid at the funeral service bearing messages of condolence for Indi and her family. One touching tribute, made up white carnations and pink roses, was arranged in the shape of a teddy bear. 

A note written by Indi's parents, accompanying their flowers, read: 'To our little daughter Indi, RIP. Taken far too soon, will never be forgotten, fly high...you're now one of heaven's angels.

'Miss you so much! Love you immensely...Mummy and Daddy.' 

Other mourners also left tributes: 'RIP Indi, always will love you,' read one. 

Another note, left by relatives, read: 'RIP Indi...go dance with the angels beautiful, love you always.'

Indi Gregory was cared for at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham before being moved to a hospice in her final days

Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory with Indi Gregory in September after she was baptised

Indi Gregory's fight for life picked up a number of high profile supporters including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured), who granted the child Italian citizenship

Pope Francis had expressed support for Indi, and sent a message of condolence to her family ahead of her funeral

The funeral was attended by Hollie Dance, mother of Archie Battersbee, who died in August 2022 after his family lost a similar court battle to keep him alive.

Archie, 12, had been found unconscious with a ligature over his head at home in Southend, Essex, in April last year. 

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Dance said Indi's plight had left her 'heartbroken', adding that her son's death was still 'very raw'.

She said of contacting Indi's parents: 'I reached out to let them know I was there for them, supporting them going forward with their fight. I said, whatever you decide to do, just know we are all behind you.

'We have to do Something to try and change this. Parents are powerless in this situation.

'Parents need to have more say, we grow these babies inside us, we carry them, and the fact all your rights are taken away - we weren’t allowed to take Archie to a hospice, or take him home, or the two countries that offered to help us.

'If the parent doesn’t want to fight, that’s totally fine, it’s their choice, but if you are given hope in another country, you should be allowed to do that.'

Indi, born on February 24, had mitochondrial disease, a rare, incurable and degenerative condition which meant that her cells did not produce enough energy. 

Doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham said she had been living in significant pain and distress. 

Mr Gregory revealed in the eulogy that she had suffered seizures, sepsis, e-coli and other infections while undergoing care. 

But Mr Gregory and Ms Staniforth's fight to give their daughter the best chance of survival saw Indi at the centre of in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases in the UK as after an Italian hospital under Vatican jurisdiction offered to treat her.

The offer sensationally led to Indi being granted Italian citizenship by the country's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - but UK judges refused to grant her parents permission to take her abroad after hearing from doctors who had cared for her.

Indi Gregory during her time being treated at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham

Mum Claire Staniford holds Indi in hospital. She described her daughter as a 'real fighter', according to the Bishop of Nottingham

Hollie Dance, mum of Archie Battersbee (pictured in August 2022) attended the funeral to show her support for Indi's family's legal battles

Archie Battersbee (pictured), 12, died in August 2022 after his family failed in their own attempts to keep him on life support

Rome's Bambino Gesu children's hospital, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy See, had offered to administer treatment for Indi. 

But Indi's parents, supported by campaign group Christian Concern, failed to convince High Court and Court of Appeal judges in London and judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to keep Indi on life-support.

High Court judge Mr Justice Peel had ruled limiting Indi's treatment would be lawful, and doing so would be in her best interests. 

She was moved from the QMC to a hospice where she died in the early hours of November 13 in her mother's arms, a few hours after sisters Liv, 19, Olivia, 13, and Vienna, six, had said their final farewells.

Mr Gregory and Ms Staniforth have accused the NHS and the courts of taking away Indi's 'chance to live a longer life' and her 'dignity' by refusing to let her die at home.

Mr Gregory said after her passing: 'They managed to take Indi's body and dignity, but they will never be able to take her soul.

'They tried to get rid of Indi without anybody knowing, but we made sure she would be remembered forever. I knew she was special from the day she was born. Claire held her for her final breaths.'

The child had been given support by a number of Italian public figures, as well as Pope Francis, who said on the day before she died he had been praying for Indi alongside all children suffering from war and diseases.

The Pontiff said in his message prior to her death: 'Pope Francis embraces the family of little Indi Gregory, her father and mother, prays for them and for her, and turns his thoughts to all the children around the world in these same hours who are living in pain or risking their lives because of disease and war.'