Late Pope Francis Directed Relief Org to Convert Popemobile into Mobile Clinic for Gaza's Children

On Monday, the late Pope Francis II's directed the Catholic relief organization, Caritas, to turn his vehicle, which he used during his 2014 visit to the West Bank, into a mobile clinic to treat Palestinian children.

Before his death at the age of 88, the Pope made the decision to support the Palestinian children. 

Francis approved the initiative, known as “Vehicle of Hope,” and prayed for its success, according to a November 2024 letter written by a senior Vatican official.

 The secretary general of Caritas Sweden  Peter Brune said: “With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to health care — children who are injured and malnourished."

“This is a concrete, lifesaving intervention at a time when the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed.”

The secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem Brune and Anton Asfar came up with the idea to use the popemobile last year. 

Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden pitched the idea to the late Pope, 

Brune said that Pope Francis II “responded positively, saying of course, if there’s anything I can do for Gaza, the children in Gaza, please use my popemobile in whatever way you want."