Before death Pope Francis leaves popemobile for children’s mobile clinic in Gaza
Refurbished 2014 vehicle to deliver healthcare to war-affected Palestinian children, says Caritas
VATICAN CITY (MNTV) — In one of his final humanitarian wishes before his death on April 21, Pope Francis requested that a retired popemobile be converted into a mobile children’s clinic for Gaza, Catholic aid organization Caritas announced on Monday.
The vehicle has now been retrofitted with medical equipment and supplies, including a refrigerated compartment for storing medicines, and is awaiting transfer to Gaza through a humanitarian corridor that has yet to be approved by Israeli authorities.
“With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to healthcare — children who are injured and malnourished,” said Peter Brune, secretary general of Caritas Sweden.
The initiative was proposed by Sweden’s Cardinal Anders Arborelius, who requested that the unused vehicle be repurposed for frontline medical work.
Pope Francis reportedly gave his blessing to the project before his passing at age 88, in keeping with his long-standing commitment to support vulnerable populations affected by conflict.
Symbol of compassion
The popemobile, a recognizable symbol of papal outreach, will now serve as a literal vehicle for care. It is set to be staffed with a team of doctors and health professionals under the coordination of Caritas Jerusalem.
Once inside Gaza, the clinic-on-wheels will focus on reaching displaced and underserved communities where access to medical treatment has become increasingly scarce.
“This vehicle represents the love, care and closeness shown by His Holiness for the most vulnerable, which he expressed throughout the crisis,” said Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem.
Asfar noted that the mobile clinic is part of a broader effort by the Catholic Church and its affiliated organizations to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, especially children, many of whom are suffering from malnutrition, trauma injuries, and chronic health conditions due to the ongoing conflict.
Awaiting access to Gaza
While the vehicle has been fully refurbished and equipped, it remains in Jerusalem pending the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza.
As of Monday, it was unclear if or when Israeli authorities would permit the passage of the vehicle and its medical team.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for safe and sustained access to deliver aid to Gaza, where hospitals are overwhelmed and essential medical infrastructure has been severely damaged.
In recent weeks, the Vatican has stepped up appeals for peace and humanitarian relief, continuing Pope Francis’s legacy of advocating for the oppressed and voiceless.
His final act of converting a ceremonial vehicle into a tool for healing has been hailed by faith-based and secular aid workers alike.
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