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Vehicle That Traversed the Streets of the West Bank with Pope Francis in 2014 Will Be Transformed Into a Mobile Medical Unit to Serve Children in Devastated Areas of the Gaza Strip
The Popemobile that took Pope Francis through the streets of Bethlehem and the West Bank in 2014 will gain a new purpose. The vehicle will be transformed into a mobile clinic to serve children in the Gaza Strip. The decision fulfills one of the last requests of the pontiff, who passed away last month.
Final Request of Pope Francis
The initiative was confirmed by the Vatican, on the eve of the conclave that will choose the new pope. According to the statement, Francis requested in recent months that Caritas Jerusalem be responsible for the transformation of the vehicle.
The organization is part of a humanitarian network that operates in Palestine, especially in Gaza and the West Bank, where about one million children face extreme conditions.
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From Symbolic Gift to Relief Mission
The Popemobile in question is an adapted Mitsubishi that had been donated to the Vatican by the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, during the papal visit to the region in 2014.
Now, the same vehicle will carry medical equipment, vaccines, and emergency supplies for children in hard-to-reach areas.
According to the Vatican, the mobile clinic will allow for examinations, rapid tests for infections, and vaccinations. The goal is to expand the reach of medical care, especially in isolated areas where the healthcare system has nearly completely collapsed.
One Life Saved at a Time
Peter Brune, Secretary-General of Caritas Sweden, highlighted the urgency of the action. “With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who currently have no access to healthcare — injured and malnourished children. This is a concrete intervention that saves lives.”
For him, the vehicle is more than just a means of transport. “It is a message that the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza,” he said. Anton Asfar, Secretary-General of Caritas Jerusalem, emphasized: “This vehicle represents the love, care, and proximity shown by His Holiness to the most vulnerable.”
Last Gestures of a Present Pope
In the last months of his life, Pope Francis made daily calls to the Catholic parish in Gaza. His last call lasted only 30 seconds. But it was enough to inquire if everyone was still alive. Since October 2023, 15,000 children have died in Gaza.
With information from UOL.
