Swedish Television on May 4 announced a humanitarian initiative to convert the late Pope Francis’s car – used during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem – into a mobile clinic for children in the Gaza Strip, fulfilling his final wish, reports the Middle East Monitor.
The initiative is being carried out in coordination between Peter Brune, Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, and Anton Safar from Jerusalem. The project had received Pope Francis’s personal approval before his passing. According to the Palestinian News and Information Agency, WAFA, the Pope had said: “If it will help the children of Gaza, then it deserves to be used this way.”
Peter Brunereportedly said the mobile unit would allow medical teams to reach children who currently lack access to treatment, due to the near-total collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza. He added: “It is not just a vehicle; it is a message that the world has not forgotten Gaza’s children.”
The vehicle, which has become a symbol of the papal visit to the Holy Land, will be equipped with medical tools and protected with a protective layer of shrapnel. However, the major challenge lies in getting it into the besieged Gaza Strip, as aid has been denied entry for over two months.
Caritas Jerusalem is leading the field efforts, continuing its humanitarian work in Gaza despite ongoing difficulties. Anton Safar said it reflects the compassion and care the Pope showed towards the vulnerable.