PULSE POINTS:
What Happened: A “popemobile” used by the late Pope Francis is being converted into a mobile health unit for Gaza.
Who’s Involved: Pope Francis, Caritas charity, Israeli government, and Palestinian children.
Where & When: Gaza Strip, ongoing since Pope Francis’s directive before his death.
Key Quote: Peter Brune of Caritas states, “It’s not just a vehicle, it’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza.”
Impact: Aid to Gaza is restricted as a result of the war, and the health system is reportedly near collapse.
IN FULL:
Efforts are underway to transform a “popemobile,” once used by Pope Francis, into a mobile health clinic destined for the Gaza Strip. The initiative, directed by Pope Francis before his passing, aims to address the medical needs of displaced Palestinian children in the conflict-ridden region.
Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 on Easter Monday, had a history of advocating for the Palestinians, often clashing with Israeli authorities. During his papacy, he called for international scrutiny of Israeli military actions in Gaza, labeling the humanitarian conditions “shameful.”
Pope Francis reportedly maintained nightly phone conversations with the only Roman Catholic Church in Gaza, sometimes calling multiple times daily.
The popemobile, used by Pope Francis during a 2014 visit to the Holy Land, is being reconfigured to serve as a clinic on wheels. This project is being supported by Caritas, a Catholic charity, with Peter Brune, the secretary general of its Swedish branch, emphasizing the symbolic and practical importance of the vehicle. “It’s not just a vehicle, it’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza,” Brune stated.
The conversion of the popemobile comes at a time when humanitarian aid to Gaza is restricted. Israel’s blockade, intended to intercept shipments and other materials used by Palestinian militants, has slowed deliveries of some essential supplies, exacerbating the already critical situation.
One of Pope Francis’s possible successors, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has been critical of Israel during his time as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Pizzaballa is one of several candidates who could become the head of the Roman Catholic Church during the Papal Conclave, which starts this week.
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