One of the vehicles once used by Pope Francis to greet crowds during his papacy is being repurposed into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza, according to Caritas, the charity overseeing the transformation. The popemobile, originally used during Francis’s 2014 visit to Bethlehem, is being equipped with essential medical supplies—such as rapid tests, suture kits, oxygen, vaccines, and a refrigerated unit for medicine—to serve in frontline war conditions. The Vatican described the initiative as the Pope’s final wish for Gaza’s children before his death last month.
The vehicle remains in Bethlehem for now and will enter Gaza once a humanitarian corridor is opened by Israel. Caritas says it is prepared to deploy immediately once access is granted.
Since the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited in October 2023, more than 15,000 children have died and nearly one million have been displaced, with aid blockades pushing Gaza to the brink of humanitarian collapse, UNICEF reports.
Caritas Sweden’s Secretary General Peter Brune emphasized that the clinic-on-wheels will allow doctors to reach injured and malnourished children currently without access to healthcare. While security measures are still being finalized, Brune said the vehicle is “a message that the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza.”
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis vocally condemned the violence in Gaza, advocating for ceasefires and humanitarian support. In his final Easter address, he urged all sides to end hostilities and drew attention to the suffering of civilians. He was known to have called Gaza parishioners personally during the conflict and questioned whether Israel’s military actions amounted to genocide—an accusation Israel denies.
Historically, popemobiles have been custom-built for visibility and security during papal visits. Although bulletproof models were introduced after an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, Francis preferred a more open design, rejecting the “sardine can” style for its separation from the public.
In response to the war, which began after Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed around 1,200 people and led to over 250 hostages being taken, Israel launched a military campaign that has so far killed over 52,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. On Monday, Israel’s cabinet reportedly approved a plan to allow aid via private companies, but humanitarian groups have refused to participate, calling it a violation of basic principles.
