Pope Francis’s popemobile transformed into mobile clinic for Gaza children
The Catholic Herald• May 6, 2025
One of Pope Francis’ popemobiles is to be transformed into a mobile clinic for children in Gaza.
Not long before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a mobile clinic for children in the war-torn region.
The popemobile in question was reportedly the one Pope Francis used when visiting Bethlehem in May 2014, during his historic visit to the Holy Land. The vehicle has since remained on display in a public square in Bethlehem.
“The popemobile has been refurbished and upgraded to fulfil a new and hopeful mission: to provide medical assistance to injured and malnourished children who currently have no access to any type of health care,” Peter Brune, secretary-general of Caritas Sweden explained.
The former popemobile, which has been named “Vehicle of Hope”, will contain basic medical equipment including rapid diagnostic kits, vaccines, syringes, oxygen, suture materials, medication and other vital supplies.
Pope Francis himself, in his final months, asked Caritas Jerusalem to enact the initiative in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of children are living without access for food, clean water or medical care. The vehicle will be operated by medics and drivers from Caritas.
About a million Palestinian children have been displaced as a result of fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces.
Pope Francis’s concern for the plight of the Palestinians antagonised the Israeli government during his papacy.
In November, the Pope said the international community should examine if the Israeli military actions in Gaza amounted to genocide. He described the humanitarian situation inside the enclave as “shameful”.
Francis had a particular concern for Gaza and made regular phone calls to a priest who runs the only Catholic church in the enclave.
Vatican News, the Holy See’s official news outlet, said: “Pope Francis’s legacy of peace continues to shine in our conflict-ridden world.
“The closeness he showed to the most vulnerable during his earthly mission is radiating even after his death, and this most recent surprise is no exception: his popemobile, the very vehicle from which he waved and was close to millions of faithful all around the world, is being transformed into a mobile health unit for the children of Gaza.”
The mobile clinic will be deployed in the Palestinian territory as soon as humanitarian access is restored, with the mission of “providing basic care in the most isolated areas and reminding the world that children’s rights and dignity must always be protected”, Brune explained.
“It is not just a medical tool but a symbol that the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza,” Brune added.
Photo: A man holds up a phone for Father Gabriel Romanelli, Parish Priest of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family, to have a video conference call with Pope Francis as the latter blesses the congregation during Christmas Eve mass at the church in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City on December 24. (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA / AFP))