One of Pope Francis’s iconic popemobiles is undergoing a transformation into a mobile health clinic dedicated to serving children in Gaza. This initiative reflects one of his final wishes and has been reported by the Vatican’s official media outlet.
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The vehicle, which was utilized by the late pontiff during his visit to the Holy Land in 2014, is now being equipped with essential diagnostic and emergency medical tools. This crucial step aims to assist young patients in the Palestinian enclave, where health services have suffered significantly due to the recent Israeli invasion.
Before his passing last month, Pope Francis entrusted this vital project to the Catholic aid organization Caritas Jerusalem, as highlighted by Vatican News. “This is a concrete, life-saving intervention at a time when the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed,” noted Peter Brune, Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, which is supporting the undertaking.
Caritas plans to deploy this mobile clinic to communities lacking access to basic healthcare facilities, as soon as humanitarian access to Gaza becomes achievable.
The transformation of this vehicle into a clinic is not just about delivering medical aid. “It’s not just a vehicle,” Mr. Brune emphasized. “It’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza.”
Gaza is home to a small Christian community, and the Vatican has shared that Pope Francis frequently reached out to the Holy Family Church in Gaza during the war that erupted in October 2023, following attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel.
Pope Francis had several popemobiles over the years, with the one from his 2014 visit remaining in the region after his return to the Vatican. Looking ahead, a conclave to elect a new pope is scheduled to begin on May 7.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
