A post on X came from Israel’s Foreign Ministry offering condolences hours after Pope Francis’ death. Deleted shortly afterwards, it read, “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing”. As per local media reports, Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide were instructed to their respective posts and not sign any Vatican embassy condolence books as well.
Posted alongside an image of the Pope visiting the Western Wall of Jerusalem, he died aged 88 due to his prolonged pneumonia. While there was no comment initially, The Independent was told that the Pope has made “statements against Israel”. Adding to this the Israeli embassy clarified that the post was made “in error”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a 28-word terse four days later.
However, Israel president Isaac Herzog expressed his wishes in a post that read, “I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel.” He added that the Pope was a man of “deep faith and boundless compassion…saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world”.
I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel – the Holy Land – on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) April 21, 2025
It has been noted that the Pope’s last address before he passed away was an appeal to end the violence in Gaza. He had been a part of the peace campaign since October 2023. Pope Francis expressed himself for the first time on October 8, the day after the war began, and he followed the same line right through the end of his life: “war is defeat, there’s no victory for war”.
Opposition MP Gilad Kariv noted that,”I’m ashamed by the fact that the Israeli government and the Israeli Knesset did not release an official message of condolences. I’m here in order to express my condolences on behalf of the vast majority of Israeli citizens,” in his visit to the Catholic Church in Jerusalem.
The funeral of Pope Francis on April 26 was attended by leaders from across the world. Indian President Droupadi Murmu, US President Trump and French President Macron were among many others. As over 200,000 people gathered at the St Peter’s Square, Ukrainian President Zelensky was also among the attendees.
