One of Pope Francis’s iconic popemobiles is being repurposed into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza, according to Vatican News. This gesture fulfills one of Francis’s final wishes before his death.
The vehicle, originally used during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land, was entrusted to Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic aid organisation. The pope intended for it to aid malnourished and injured children in Gaza, where access to healthcare is extremely limited due to the ongoing conflict.
Caritas is outfitting the vehicle with essential medical equipment, transforming it into a mobile clinic capable of providing examinations, treatment, and other critical health services. Once conditions permit safe access, the clinic—staffed by medical professionals—will serve communities without functioning medical facilities.
Peter Brune, Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, emphasized that the popemobile is more than just a vehicle—it’s a symbol that the world still cares about Gaza’s children.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was a vocal advocate for peace, repeatedly calling for ceasefires in both the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. His last appeal came on Easter Sunday, just a day before he passed away.
In the months before his death, Francis was in frequent contact with the Holy Family Church in Gaza, the only Catholic church there, which had become a refuge for both Christian and Muslim civilians during Israel’s military operations following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
In a controversial move during Christmas, the Vatican displayed a Nativity scene featuring baby Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh—a traditional Palestinian scarf often linked to pro-Palestinian solidarity—but later removed it after backlash.
The Conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is set to begin on Wednesday.
