Popemobile turned into ‘Vehicle of Hope’ to deliver medical care to children amid Gaza crisis

A vehicle once used by the late Pope Francis during his visit to Bethlehem more than a decade ago has been converted into a mobile health clinic, with hopes that it will soon provide medical care to Palestinian children in Gaza.

According to Italian news agency ANSA in May, Pope Francis had expressed a wish before his death on 21 April 2025 for Caritas, the Catholic Church’s charitable organisation, to repurpose one of his popemobiles into a medical unit dedicated to Gaza’s children.

The vehicle will be staffed by a driver and a doctor, and equipped with diagnostic tools, rapid infection tests, syringes and other essential medical supplies.

It is reportedly capable of treating around 200 children per day.

Honouring the Late Pope’s Final Wish

At a ceremony attended by religious and community leaders, Ibrahim Faltas, adviser to the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, announced that the “Vehicle of Hope” is expected to reach Gaza soon to support injured children and their families.

He recalled that the vehicle had been used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to the city and explained that its conversion is intended to provide humanitarian care for the injured.

Faltas said the late pontiff had shown deep concern for the Holy Land throughout his life and held a particular affection for Gaza.

Despite his declining health, Pope Francis continued communicating daily with the parish in Gaza to check on their well-being, he added.

He also noted that the Pope met a group of Palestinian children in February who had been treated in Italy, expressing admiration for their resilience and intelligence.

Highlighting the urgent need for medical care amid ongoing Israeli military operations, Faltas stressed that thousands of children in Gaza are in desperate need of treatment.

While no date was provided for the popemobile’s arrival, he expressed hope that it would be soon.

Caritas Jerusalem Secretary-General Anton Asfar underscored the significance of the initiative, noting that more than one million children have been displaced since the conflict intensified.

“We have seen more than a million children displaced, and so it was particularly important to us as Caritas, together with Caritas Jerusalem, when Pope Francis, as one of his last wishes, said that he wanted his Popemobile to be turned into a paediatric clinic for the children of Gaza,” he said.

Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius also welcomed the development, describing the Vehicle of Hope as ready for a meaningful new mission.

He cited Pope Francis’ belief that children “are not numbers, but faces, names and stories”.

“We want every child we reach to feel seen, heard and protected. The rights and well-being of the child come first. This vehicle stands as a testament that the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza,” he added.

COGAT, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating the entry of aid into Gaza, declined to comment on the request for the vehicle’s entry.

At Least 67 Children Killed Since Ceasefire

The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF reported on Friday (21 Nov) that at least 67 children have been killed in conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire came into effect.

The Israeli military has maintained that its operations target militants posing threats to soldiers stationed in parts of Gaza.

“Dozens more have been injured. That is an average of almost two children killed every day since the ceasefire took effect,” UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva.

The agency also noted that approximately 4,000 children require urgent medical evacuation, as Gaza’s damaged health facilities are incapable of providing the necessary treatment.

Since 7 October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 69,700 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 20,179 children, according to Gaza’s health authorities.