'Popemobile' Turns Into Health Clinic For Gaza's Children, As Pope Francis Wished | rssama.com

One of Pope Francis’ “popemobiles” is being turned into a mobile wellness session for Gaza’s wounded and starving children — 1 of nan pontiff’s past wishes earlier he died and a awesome of his long-held dedication to nan Palestinian people.

Francis utilized nan popemobile during his 2014 visit of nan Holy Land, which includes Israel and nan Palestinian territories. Before his April 21 death, nan 88-year-old pope asked Catholic assistance web Caritas to usage that popemobile to assistance Palestinian families struggling to past successful war-torn Gaza, the Vatican News reported Sunday.

“This conveyance represents nan love, attraction and closeness that His Holiness Pope Francis showed to nan astir vulnerable, thing he expressed passim nan crisis,” Caritas Jerusalem Secretary General Anton Asfar said successful a statement.

Pope Francis waves from his popemobile arsenic he leaves nan Cathedral successful San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, successful 2016.

Eduardo Verdugo via Associated Press

The consequence — disease, starvation, infections, amputations, congenital disabilities and hypothermia — has exacerbated nan crisis, particularly for Gaza’s children, who dress up astir half nan territory’s population. Francis had specifically advocated for Gaza’s youth, saying successful January that anyone who harms children will person to reply to God.

“With nan vehicle, we will beryllium capable to scope children who presently deficiency entree to attraction — children who are injured and malnourished,” Caritas Sweden Secretary General Peter Brune said successful a statement. “This is simply a actual and lifesaving effort astatine a clip erstwhile the wellness attraction strategy successful Gaza has almost collapsed.”

Wedad Abdelaal poses successful her shelter pinch her malnourished children astatine nan Mawasi exile campy successful Khan Younis, Gaza, connected Friday.

Abdel Kareem Hana via Associated Press

Caritas Jerusalem, which has provided wellness attraction assistance successful Gaza before, is converting nan popemobile truthful that it tin beryllium utilized to behaviour aesculapian examinations, diagnostics and treatment. The mobile session — renamed Vehicle of Hope — will beryllium staffed pinch drivers and aesculapian personnel, and see supplies specified arsenic accelerated sampling kits, suture kits, syringes, vaccines, oxygen and a medicine refrigerator.

“The converted popemobile is some a wellness attraction supplier connected wheels and a connection of dream — a conveyance that tin show nan world has not forgotten nan children of Gaza,” said Cardinal Anders Arborelius, bishop of nan Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

Francis’ progressive pontificate focused heavily connected world peace, many times calling for ceasefires successful conflict zones for illustration Gaza. The pope made telephone calls almost each nighttime to Gaza’s only Catholic church, which served arsenic a shelter for Palestinian Christians and Muslims alike. He besides made headlines for unveiling a Nativity segment past Christmas successful Vatican City that featured babe Jesus successful a keffiyeh, nan patterned scarf that has go a awesome of Palestinian solidarity and liberation.

A man holds up a telephone for nan Rev. Gabriel Romanelli of nan Holy Family Catholic Church displaying a video convention telephone pinch Pope Francis arsenic nan second blesses nan congregation during Christmas Eve Mass astatine nan religion successful Gaza City successful 2024.

Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images

“I definitive my closeness to nan sufferings of Christians successful Palestine and Israel, and to each nan Israeli group and nan Palestinian people,” Francis said successful his Easter speech, 1 time earlier he died. “The increasing ambiance of antisemitism passim nan world is worrisome.

“Yet astatine nan aforesaid time, I deliberation of nan group of Gaza, and its Christian organization successful particular, wherever nan unspeakable conflict continues to origin decease and demolition and to create a melodramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” he continued. “I entreaty to nan warring parties: telephone a ceasefire, merchandise nan hostages and travel to nan assistance of a starving group that aspires to a early of peace.”

The Conclave, wherever cardinals will ballot connected who will win Francis arsenic pope, originates Wednesday.