The Israeli government removed a social media post that expressed condolences following the death of Pope Francis, just hours after it was published. According to reports from local media, Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide were also instructed to delete any similar messages and to refrain from signing condolence books at the Vatican embassy.
The original post, shared on Israel’s verified X account (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stated: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” This message was accompanied by a photograph of the Pope visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem. However, the post was subsequently taken down.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American to serve as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Earlier this year, he had suffered from severe double pneumonia.
The Jerusalem Post reported that officials within Israel's Foreign Ministry described the post as published “in error” due to the Pope’s history of making “statements against Israel.” The Independent has reached out to the Israeli embassy in London and Israel’s Foreign Ministry for comment on the matter, but no official response has yet been provided.
In contrast to the government's deleted post, Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a separate statement praising the late pontiff as “a man of deep peace, faith and compassion.”
Pope Francis was notably vocal about the conflict in Gaza, expressing solidarity with those living in the enclave devastated by ongoing violence since October 2023. In his final Easter message, he reiterated calls for a ceasefire, describing the situation in Gaza as “dramatic and deplorable.” The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, highlighted the Pope’s close connection to the Gaza community, noting that Francis maintained daily phone contact with the parish there during the conflict.
Expressing disappointment at the Israeli government's stance, opposition Member of Parliament Gilad Kariv voiced his shame over the lack of an official condolence message from the Israeli government and Knesset. Speaking outside a central Catholic church in Jerusalem, Kariv offered his condolences “on behalf of the vast majority of Israeli citizens.”
Additionally, Israeli diplomats have privately conveyed to outlet Ynet their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. One diplomat remarked, “Not only did we not say words of condolence, but we chose to erase them – and that looks bad. Very bad.”
The removal of the condolence post and instructions to diplomats to avoid public condolences have drawn attention amidst Pope Francis’s significant role in advocating for peace in the region during a tumultuous period.
Source: Noah Wire Services