In 2014, during his visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, specifically in Bethlehem, Pope Francis made his way through the customary birthplace of Jesus Christ in a white popemobile designed particularly for the occasion.
Now, this vehicle is being repurposed as a mobile health clinic intended to provide medical care to sick and injured Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. The initiative received Pope Francis’s blessing just a short time before his death.
While the clinic will only serve a limited number of Palestinians in Gaza, Pope Francis’s personal engagement in the effort emphasized his dedication to Palestinian civilians, especially children, who have been impacted by the over 18 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“The popemobile is a tangible testament to Pope Francis’s care for all the suffering of children in Gaza, even beyond his life!” Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden stated in an email on Monday.
The concept of turning the popemobile into a health clinic originated with the leaders of Caritas, a Catholic organization, and Cardinal Arborelius brought the idea to Francis. This Swedish cardinal is under consideration to become the next pope, following in the footsteps of Francis, who passed away on April 28.
The popemobile, a converted Mitsubishi, was originally provided by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority for Francis’s visit. It was subsequently handed over to the Franciscan order and then to Caritas, after Francis granted his approval for its use in Gaza.
In November 2024, representatives of Francis confirmed that he endorsed the initiative, as indicated in letters from senior Vatican officials that The New York Times has examined.
“I am glad to transmit His Holiness’s endorsement of the project, along with his prayers for all involved in this charitable endeavor,” Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a senior assistant to Francis, wrote to Cardinal Arborelius.
The popemobile will be staffed with a physician and a nurse and equipped with medical instruments to provide children with fundamental care. This includes rapid assessments for infections, stitch kits, and syringes, according to Anton Asfar, the secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem. Caritas Jerusalem has approximately 100 staff members in Gaza aiding Palestinians.
Getting the vehicle ready for service, including the installation of blast-resistant windows, is expected to take around three weeks, Mr. Asfar stated. He added that Caritas Jerusalem will be requesting permission from Israeli authorities to deliver the popemobile to Gaza soon.
COGAT, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating aid delivery into the Gaza Strip, did not respond to inquiries regarding whether Israel intends to allow the entry of the popemobile. The past two months have seen a complete blockade on humanitarian and commercial goods enforced by Israeli authorities, with the declared purpose of pressuring Hamas to release the hostages they have been holding since the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
Francis was a vocal advocate for a cease-fire in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian assistance. He also urged for the release of hostages, met with their families, and condemned the Hamas-led attack that left around 1,200 individuals deceased and approximately 250 taken hostage.
Additionally, he repeatedly had video calls with Christians seeking refuge in a church in Gaza City and highlighted the plight of children killed in Israeli airstrikes.
“Yesterday, children were bombed,” Francis declared in a December 2024 address. “This is brutality. This is not war.”
The Israeli military contends that their bombing campaign target Hamas militants, officials, and weapon infrastructure, and blames the militant group for endangering civilians by hiding amongst them.
The popemobile will convey a message of hope and solidarity, providing essential services as well, stated Peter Brune, the secretary general of Caritas Sweden.
“It’s symbolic,” he remarked, “but it’s also practical.”
