Pope Francis' final wish has been revealed ahead of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration this weekend.
The late pontiff passed away on Easter Monday last month (21 April) from a cardiac arrest at the age of 88.
Two weeks later, the College of Cardinals convened a conclave and elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as his successor on 8 May.
Francis' legacy of promoting peace, however, was certainly part of his final wish.
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And his iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class popemobile, a custom-built fully electric car, also reflected his commitment to the environment.
Featuring a pearl-white exterior and an open top design, the vehicle was used regularly during public appearances.
In his last years, Francis spoke openly about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, amid the thousands of reported deaths.
As reported by Vatican News, the former Pope would often say: "Children are not numbers. They are faces. Names. Stories. And each one is sacred."
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According to CNN, every day since the start of the war he would call a member of Gaza’s small Christian population for a short phone call to ask if they were ok.
In his final months, he wished for the popemobile to be 'transformed into a mobile health unit for the children of Gaza'.
Peter Brune, Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, said that 'with the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to health care – children who are injured and malnourished'.
"This is a concrete, life-saving intervention at a time when the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed," he added, noting that a team of doctors would run the mobile clinic, which will have the capabilities to treat patients.
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"It’s not just a vehicle. It’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza."
Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic humanitarian organisation, has been helping the people of Gaza by providing on-the-ground healthcare delivery with the help of over one hundred members of staff.
The nonprofit said the car would provide 'rapid tests, suture kits, syringes, oxygen supplies, vaccines and a small fridge for storing medicines.'
“This vehicle represents the love, care and closeness shown by His Holiness for the most vulnerable, which he expressed throughout the crisis,” said Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem.
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It comes after the announcement of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass, which is scheduled for 18 May in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City at 10am local time.
The Mass will include traditions, such as a visit to St. Peter’s tomb, the presentation of the pallium, and the conferral of the Fisherman’s Ring.
Topics: News, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, World News, Charity
Anish Vij