The Israeli government has come under criticism after hastily deleting a social media post expressing condolences for the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. The message, posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account, read: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing,” and included a photo of the pontiff visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem. However, within hours, both the post and similar ones shared by Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide were removed, reportedly on the instructions of the Foreign Ministry.
++ Fish facts that challenge what we know
Local media, including The Jerusalem Post, cited officials who claimed the post was shared in error, citing concerns over the Pope’s previous comments deemed critical of Israel. Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had long advocated for peace in the Middle East and had made repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. His final Easter address described the humanitarian crisis in the enclave as “dramatic and deplorable”, further highlighting his solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Despite the deletion of the official message, Israeli President Isaac Herzog did issue a separate statement describing the Pope as “a man of deep peace, faith and compassion”. Meanwhile, criticism has continued to mount domestically, with opposition MP Gilad Kariv visiting Jerusalem’s central Catholic Church to offer condolences on behalf of “the vast majority of Israeli citizens.” He expressed dismay that neither the government nor the Knesset had issued a formal tribute to the late pontiff.
++ Ellen Pompeo shares frustrations over ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fame
Additional criticism came from Israeli diplomats, with one telling Ynet that the removal of the message without explanation “certainly does not satisfy us, or the public we represent”. Another added bluntly: “Not only did we not offer condolences, but we erased them – and that looks bad. Very bad.” The incident has drawn scrutiny over how diplomatic sensitivities are being handled in relation to global religious leaders and humanitarian positions on the Gaza conflict.
