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Children are not numbers. Children are faces, names, and stories
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That was Cardinal Anders Arborelius speaking in Bethlehem this week. He was there to unveil a unique legacy left by the late Pope Francis
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The Pope Mobile, once used to carry the Catholic leader through the streets of Bethlehem in 2014
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has been transformed into a mobile clinic for children in Gaza. Caritas unveiled the Vehicle of Hope this week, a mobile clinic designed to deliver medical care to children in Gaza
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Before his death in April, Pope Francis blessed the initiative as one of his final wishes
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The modified Mitsubishi pickup, originally a gift from Palestinian leaders in 2014, underwent a $15,000 transformation
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Palestinian mechanics enclosed the rear platform where the pontiff once stood, turning it into a treatment space
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Organizers say the unit is equipped with oxygen, refrigeration for medicine, and diagnostic tools to treat up to 200 children a day
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In a symbolic move, young patients will sit in the formal papal seat during their exams
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However, the clinic remains in the West Bank for now. While organizers are eager to deploy, they are still waiting for authorization from Israeli officials to enter the enclave
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