A converted Mitsubishi, which carried Pope Francis through the streets of Bethlehem in 2014, is being prepared to beturned into a mobile health clinic to help the children of Gaza, in fulfillment of the late Pope’s request.
After gathering dust for years, the vehicle is being refitted with everything needed for frontline care in a war zone. “There’ll be rapid tests, suture kits, syringes, oxygen supplies, vaccines, and a small fridge for storing medicines,” charity organization Caritas, which is overseeing the project, explained in a statement.
The Gaza conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israeli officials claim 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with over half believed to be dead.
The blockade of humanitarian aid for over two months has left families struggling to survive, with food, clean water, and medicines reaching critical levels.
UNICEF reports that the conflict has killed over 15,000 children, injured tens of thousands, and displaced nearly one million.
“With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to health care – children who are injured and malnourished,” Peter Brune said in a statement.
According to BBC, a team of doctors will run the mobile clinic, which will have the capabilities to examine and treat patients, and there will be a dedicated driver. Some details are still being finalised, such as how to make the vehicle safe from potential blasts.
“It’s not just a vehicle, it’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza,” he added.
About the popemobile
The vehicle was originally made locally in the Palestinian territories, which Palestinian officials have pointed out as significant. It was donated by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority’s president, in anticipation of the Pope’s arrival. Its open-air design enables Pope Francis to interact intimately with crowds and be seen. The popemobile featured a white exterior, which is significant to most popemobiles. The car prioritizes accessibility over robust armoring, as it differed from previous Popemobiles with bulletproof glass, which were deployed following the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Following the Pope’s visit, the Popemobile was gifted to the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land by President Mahmoud Abbas. It was on exhibit in Bethlehem, close to Manger Square, until 2024.
The transformed popemobile is expected to be ready in a week or so. It is currently in Bethlehem, and will enter Gaza if and when permission is gained from Israeli officials.
