The Israeli government posted, and later deleted, an online message offering condolences over the death of Pope Francis, in a move that has drawn attention amid recent tensions between the Vatican and Israeli officials.
The verified @Israel account on social media platform X published a message that read: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing,” accompanied by an image of the Pope during a 2014 visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The post was removed shortly after it went live.
No official explanation was issued for the deletion. However, The Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed officials from Israel’s foreign ministry who said the post had been published “in error,” and pointed to previous remarks made by Pope Francis that were critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
In November 2024, the late pope had questioned whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza could amount to genocide. In one of his strongest public criticisms of the conflict, Francis called on the international community to evaluate the situation through the lens of international law.
In January 2025, he described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as “shameful.” His remarks drew criticism from some Jewish leaders, including Rome’s Chief Rabbi, who accused the pontiff of showing “selective indignation.”
Israel has firmly rejected accusations of genocide, stating its military operations in Gaza are aimed at dismantling Hamas and preventing future attacks.
Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. He led the Catholic Church for 12 years and was known for his efforts to balance neutrality with moral advocacy in global conflicts. While critical of Israel's Gaza campaign, Francis also spoke out against antisemitism and engaged in daily phone calls with members of Gaza’s Christian minority during the recent conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not issued a statement on the pope’s death. However, President Isaac Herzog did send condolences, describing Francis as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion” in a message directed to Christian communities in Israel and abroad.
Francis visited Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2014. During the visit, he prayed at the Western Wall and at a section of the barrier erected by Israel in the West Bank near Bethlehem, seen by many Palestinians as a symbol of division.
Relations between the Vatican and Israel have improved in recent decades, though political disagreements have occasionally resurfaced, particularly during times of conflict in the region.
The Israeli foreign ministry, which is linked to the @Israel account, has not commented further on the deleted post.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ