Pope Francis leads tributes to Charlie Gard: 'I entrust little Charlie to the Father'

Pope Francis has led tributes to 11-month-old Charlie Gard following his death as messages of support for the baby's parents poured in from around the world.

The Pope tweeted: "I entrust little Charlie to the Father and pray for his parents and all those who loved him."

The leader of the Catholic Church had shown his support for Charlie's parents during their lengthy legal battle for treatment for their seriously ill son.

The news that Charlie had died on Friday afternoon led to an outpouring of grief from well-wishers around the world.

The 11-month-old baby suffered from an extremely rare genetic condition causing progressive brain damage and muscle weakness, and his parents' long struggle to save him drew an international outpouring of sympathy.

"Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie," said Connie Yates, the baby's mother.

Following news of Charlie's death, US Vice President Mike Pence tweeted: "Saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie Gard. Karen & I offer our prayers & condolences to his loving parents during this difficult time."

After a harrowing legal battle that prompted a global debate over who has the moral right to decide the fate of a sick child, a judge on Thursday ordered that Charlie be moved to a hospice where the ventilator that keeps him alive would be turned off.

Yates and the baby's father Chris Gard had wanted Charlie to undergo a treatment that has never been tried on anyone with his condition before, against the advice of doctors at his London hospital who said it would not benefit him and would prolong his suffering.

Charlie required a ventilator to breathe and was unable to see, hear or swallow.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "deeply saddened" by the death of  11-month-old Charlie Gard and her "thoughts and prayers" were with his parents. 

The case drew comment from U.S. President Donald Trump, who tweeted on July 3 that "we would be delighted" to help Charlie, and from Pope Francis, who called for the parents to be allowed to do everything possible to treat their child.

Charlie, who was born on August 4 last year, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Described as "perfectly healthy" when he was born, Charlie was admitted to hospital at eight weeks and his condition has progressively deteriorated.

The couple said they wanted to take their son across the Atlantic for nucleoside bypass therapy, but specialists at GOSH in London, where Charlie was being cared for, said the treatment was experimental and would not help.