Overview

• The Papamobil, originally built for Pope Francis's 2014 visit to Bethlehem, is being repurposed into a mobile health clinic for Palestinian children in Gaza.
• The initiative, one of Francis's final acts before his death on April 21, 2025, is led by Caritas Jerusalem with support from Caritas Sweden.
• The vehicle is undergoing a three-week retrofit, including the installation of blast-proof windows and medical equipment such as rapid tests and syringes.
• Caritas Jerusalem plans to seek Israeli authorization for the Papamobil's entry into Gaza, where aid deliveries have been blocked since March.
• The project symbolizes a message of global solidarity, but its implementation remains uncertain due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and political challenges in the region.