Late Pope Francis requested popemobile to serve as Gaza health clinic

In one of his final gestures of compassion before his death, Pope Francis requested that his popemobile be repurposed as a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza.

The initiative, announced this week, is intended to provide urgent medical support to the Palestinian enclave, where the healthcare system has been devastated by Israel, which has waged 19 months of devastating war, as well as blockading it. 

The vehicle in question is the modified Jeep used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land. It is being outfitted with medical equipment by Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic humanitarian organisation operating in the region.

Once operational, the vehicle will offer diagnostic care, vaccinations, and emergency aid to children and families in areas of the Strip cut off from functioning hospitals.

Peter Brune, Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, described the effort as "life-saving".

"This is a concrete, life-saving intervention at a time when the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed,"  he said. Medical supplies, including oxygen, first aid equipment, and basic pharmaceuticals, are being stocked aboard the vehicle.

The initiative reflects Pope Francis's enduring concern for the people of Gaza, particularly its children. Throughout the recent conflict, he maintained regular contact with Gaza’s Catholic community, including the Holy Family Church, one of the few Christian institutions still operating in the territory. The late pontiff is said to have called the church every night since the war began.

According to Vatican News, he was deeply moved by the stories of injured and displaced children shared with him by the church's clergy and the many aid workers on the ground, with the church serving as a refuge for all Palestinians regardless of creed. 

Anton Asfar, a senior figure at Caritas Jerusalem, said, "This vehicle represents the love, care and closeness shown by His Holiness for the most vulnerable, which he expressed throughout the crisis." He added that the popemobile would not only deliver treatment but serve as a symbol of solidarity and peace.

The mobile clinic will be deployed as soon as humanitarian access to Gaza is possible.

While logistical challenges remain — including secure entry routes and coordination with local authorities — Caritas and other partners remain hopeful that the vehicle will soon be on the ground, saving lives and honouring Francis's final request.

As of May 2025, Gaza's healthcare system is in a state of collapse.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 33 out of 36 hospitals have been damaged since October 2023. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) reports that over 1,300 health workers have been killed, and 670 attacks on healthcare have affected 122 facilities and 170 ambulances.