Pope Francis’s Popemobile Transformed into a Mobile Clinic for Gaza Children

In an effort to provide medical care for children in Gaza, one of Pope Francis’s popemobiles will be transformed into a mobile clinic, according to the Vatican. The vehicle, a Mitsubishi model used during the Pope’s visit to Bethlehem in 2014, is being repurposed for children in the Gaza Strip. “Work has already begun” on converting the small white vehicle, confirmed Caritas, the Vatican’s humanitarian organization. Peter Bruné, General Secretary of Caritas Sweden, explained to AFP that the initiative was led by Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius, who believed the vehicle should be utilized where it is most needed. Upon speaking with Pope Francis, the idea was approved. The goal, emphasized by Caritas, is to deliver immediate medical care to those lacking essential services while protecting their rights and dignity. With nearly a million children displaced and the humanitarian crisis worsening in Gaza, this mobile clinic aims to offer basic healthcare once humanitarian corridors are established. Equipped with bandage kits, syringes, oxygen, and vaccines stored in a small refrigerator, the vehicle will be managed by a team of doctors and drivers. This gesture, noted Anton Safar, General Secretary of Caritas Jerusalem, expresses Pope Francis’s love and solidarity for the most vulnerable communities affected by the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Just before his death, Pope Francis criticized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza during his Easter message, delivered from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He reiterated calls for a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory and the release of Israeli hostages. Following Pope Francis’s passing, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hailed him as ‘a true friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,’ noting his recognition of the Palestinian state and allowing its flag to fly at the Vatican.