Israel Deletes Condolence Post for Pope Francis Amid Tensions Over Gaza Criticism

The Israeli government briefly posted — then deleted — a message of condolence for the late Pope Francis on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, sparking speculation that the removal was related to the pope’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The post from the verified @Israel account read: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing,” accompanied by an image of the pope at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. However, the message was later taken down without explanation.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli foreign ministry officials cited the pope’s past "statements against Israel" as a reason for the post’s removal, calling it a mistake. The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Pope Francis passed away on Monday at age 88. In one of his strongest critiques of Israel’s actions during the ongoing war with Hamas, he suggested in November 2024 that the international community should investigate whether the campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. In January, he also described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “shameful,” remarks that drew backlash, including from Rome’s Chief Rabbi, who accused the pontiff of exhibiting “selective indignation.”

Israel maintains that its military efforts in Gaza are focused solely on dismantling Hamas and other militant groups, and it dismisses genocide accusations as unfounded.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on Pope Francis’ death, President Isaac Herzog issued condolences to Christians worldwide, describing the pope as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.”

Despite past tensions, Pope Francis made efforts during his 12-year papacy to promote peace and interfaith dialogue. He condemned antisemitism and spoke regularly with Gaza’s small Christian community during the war. His 2014 trip to the Holy Land included visits to both the Western Wall and a segment of the Israeli-constructed barrier separating Jerusalem from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

His nuanced approach to conflict and advocacy for human rights defined his leadership, even when it courted controversy.