After his death, it was revealed that Pope Francis donated a Popemobile to be converted into a mobile health unit in Gaza. It is to serve the children who are victims of the war.
The Jerusalem and Sweden branches of the Vatican’s charitable federation Caritas published photos of the vehicle on Monday. How they recycled it and when it could be used.
Pope Francis donated a Popemobile to Gaza: how it was recycled
It is not yet known when the vehicle can be used. The pontiff’s donation was announced on the same day that Israel approved plans to take over the entire Gaza Strip and remain in Palestinian territory for an indefinite period.
Pope Francis and a donation for Gaza.
“When the humanitarian corridor to Gaza is reopened, (the Popemobile) will be ready to provide primary health care to the children of Gaza,” stated Caritas Jerusalem in a release.
The vehicle will be equipped with diagnostic, examination, and treatment equipment. According to Caritas, it will have analysis equipment, suture kits, syringes and needles, oxygen supply, vaccines, and a refrigerator.
“It represents the love, care, and closeness shown by His Holiness towards the most vulnerable, as expressed throughout the crisis,” said Caritas Jerusalem’s General Secretary, Anton Asfar, in a statement.
Pope Francis’ closeness to the victims
The Pontiff spoke repeatedly about the difficult situation of the Gaza population and had a nightly ritual that he even maintained while in the hospital in February.
He would call the only Catholic church in the Strip to see how the people crowded inside were managing. Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The situation in Gaza
In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian conditions are devastating. More than a year after the start of the armed conflict, residents have even been forced to resort to turtle meat for sustenance.
The Popemobile donated by Francis.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), currently the Gaza Strip is likely experiencing “the worst” humanitarian situation since the conflict erupted, triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Although a ceasefire came into effect on January 19, allowing the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, that peace was once again interrupted on March 18.
