When Pope Francis visited Bethlehem in 2014 on the Israeli West Bank, he crossed the traditional birthplace of Jesus in a white popemobile that was specially made for his visit.
Now the vehicle is being converted into a mobile health clinic to treat sick and wounded Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip – an initiative that blessed Pope Francis in the months before he died.
Although the clinic will only serve a limited number of Palestinians in Gaza, the personal involvement of Pope Francis reflected in the project his dedication to Palestinian citizens who are trapped in the cross -fire between Israel and Hamas, in particular children, in more than 18 months of war.
“The Papamobile is a very concrete sign that Pope Francis is concerned with all the suffering of children in Gaza, even after his death!” Cardinal Anders Arborelius van Sweden said on Monday in an e -mail.
The idea of making the Popemobile as a health clinic again came from leaders of Caritas, a Catholic organization and cardinal Arborelius approached Francis with it. The Swedish Cardinal is a competition to become The next pope after Francis, who died on April 28.
The Popemobile, a converted Mitsubishi, was donated by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority for Francis’s visit. It was afterwards given to the Franciscan order and then to Caritas after Francis blessed in Gaza.
In November 2024, representatives from Francis said he welcomed the initiative, according to two letters from Senior Vatican officers assessed by the New York Times.
“I am delighted to convey the approval of his holiness about the project, together with the certainty of his prayers for everyone associated with this charity,” wrote Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a senior assistant to Francis, to Cardinal Arborelius.
The PopEmobile will be manned with a doctor and a nurse and equipped with medical instruments to offer children basic care, including fast tests for infections, attachment kits and spraying, according to Anton Aspar, the Secretary -General of Caritas Jerusalem. Caritas Jerusalem has around 100 employees in Gaza and offers help to Palestinians.
Preparing the vehicle for use, including the installation of blast -free windows, lasts approximately three weeks, Mr Asar said. Caritas Jerusalem, he added, will soon ask questions from the Israeli authorities to deliver it to Gaza.
Cogat, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating access to the enclave, did not respond to a request for commenting on whether Israel intended to allow the passage of the popemobile. In the past two months, the Israeli authorities have enforced a total blockade for humanitarian stocks and commercial goods, and said that the prohibition was intended to put pressure on Hamas to release more of the hostages they have had since October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Francis was one of the most pronounced prominent supporters of a ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid. He also called for the release of hostages, met their family members and convicted the attack -led attack, causing around 1200 people to death and about 250 were abducted.
He too Often had video calls with Christians Hiding place in a church in Gaza City and drawn attention to children killed in Israeli air strikes.
“Yesterday, children were bombed,” said Francis in an address of December 2024. “This is cruelty. This is not a war.”
The Israeli army has said that the bombing campaign has focused on Hamas militants and civil servants and weapon infrastructure, and the militant group blamed for exposing citizens in danger by inserting with them.
The Popemobile will bear a message of hope and solidarity, but it will also offer the necessary services, said Peter Brune, the Secretary -General of Caritas Sweden.
“It’s symbolic,” he said, “but it is also practical.”
- Advertisement -
