Israeli Catholics protest against authorities' attitude to Pope's death
Israeli Christians have called the delayed condolences and the government's unwillingness to send high-ranking officials to Pope Francis's funeral a grave insult.
Christian communities in Israel sent a letter of protest to Prime Minister Netanyahu against the demonstratively offensive attitude of the government towards the repose of the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis, reports the Israeli publication "Kan" on April 25, 2025.
“We read with great concern and anger the decision of the Israeli Foreign Ministry to prevent Israeli ambassadors and diplomatic missions from issuing statements of mourning after the passing of Pope Francis. This decision, as well as the lack of condolences from the Israeli government, is a grave insult not only to the Christian citizens of Israel but also to Christians worldwide, if not to all of humanity, who honored the late Pope, known for his tireless support for peace, justice, human dignity, and interfaith dialogue,” the statement reads.
The letter's authors also include the Vatican: a Catholic diplomat called it “shameful” and stated that relations between Israel and the Vatican could no longer be better than they were under Pope Francis.
The Israeli government decided not to send anyone to the funeral on Saturday, deeming the presence of the ambassador sufficient.
On the day of the pontiff's death, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an obituary on platform X expressing condolences regarding the passing of Pope Francis, but a few hours later it deleted it and prohibited all Israeli diplomatic missions abroad from publishing condolences. Only on Thursday, three days late, the office of Prime Minister Netanyahu published a brief expression of sympathy.
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.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 24, 2025
It is noted that the reason for such demonstrative disrespect towards the Vatican was the “pro-Palestinian” position taken by Pope Francis during the war in Gaza.
Earlier, the UOJ reported on what Pope Francis was like.
