A popemobile used by Pope Francis during his 2014 tour of the Holy Land has been transformed into a mobile health clinic for Gaza’s children, but Israeli authorities are yet to give permission for it to enter the war-ravaged strip. Source: ABC News.
One of the late pontiff’s final wishes was for the vehicle to be refurbished and dedicated to supporting Palestinian children, prompting a months-long project in a workshop in the West Bank.
Dubbed the Vehicle of Hope and retaining the customary white associated with the pope, Catholic charity Caritas unveiled the finished product in Bethlehem yesterday in the shadow of the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus was born.
“Let me remind you of the words by the late Pope Francis,” Cardinal Anders Arborelius, Bishop of Stockholm, said at the ceremony.
“Children are not numbers; children are faces, names and stories, and each one matters.
“With the Vehicle of Hope, we want every child we reach to feel seen, heard and protected. The rights and wellbeing of the child come first.
“I am convinced that this converted Popemobile can truly serve its purpose, namely, a practical tool for humanitarian workers, and a genuine vehicle of hope for those who need it most.”
For the moment, the vehicle is encased in a glass display case under lock and key. Israeli authorities need to grant permission for it to enter Gaza because it controls all access in and out of the strip.
COGAT, the agency responsible for coordinating services in Gaza, would not provide an on-the-record response to the ABC’s questions about the project.
It did tell newspaper The Times of Israel that no request for access had been received, saying it would evaluate any application once it was submitted.
Pope Francis had a great affinity with the people of Gaza, making repeated statements about his concerns for their plight during Israel’s war in the strip before his death in April this year.
Speaking to the ABC before the former Popemobile was presented to the public, Caritas Jerusalem secretary-general Anton Asfar said it was an important project.
“We were deeply, and we are still deeply, touched by the closeness and care of late His Holiness Pope Francis,” Mr Asfar said.
“He said that children are not only figures; they are human beings and we should care for their dignity.”
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Pope Francis’s Popemobile transformed into mobile clinic for Gaza children (By Matthew Doran, ABC News)
