Criticism and celebration in Israel after death of Pope Francis

 

Many Israelis slammed the pontiff for his vocal support for Palestinians and took to social media to celebrate his death

The Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death on Monday morning was met with a mix of celebration and criticism in Israel, where politicians, pundits and social media users focused on the pontiff's condemnation of Israel amid its war on the Gaza Strip.

The pope, aged 88, passed away after denouncing the "deplorable humanitarian situation" caused by Israel's onslaught on Gaza and expressing his "closeness to the sufferings… of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people" in his final address on Easter Sunday.

"I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace," he said.

Rafi Schutz, Israel's former ambassador to the Vatican, wrote that he was "the pope who brought the world closer to him and disappointed Israel".

The pope's position on Israel after the start of the war deserved "harsh criticism", Schutz continued, adding that it marked a "significant blow" to Israeli-Vatican relations.

The right-wing newspaper Israel Hayom said the pontiff will be remembered in Israel "mainly for his harsh statements against the war in Gaza". 

Similarly, the far-right Channel 14 called him Israel's "harshest critic".  (more...)

Criticism and celebration in Israel after death of Pope Francis

Related:

Israel account on X posts, then deletes, Pope Francis condolences

They deleted it. Santo Subito! Saint Francis! pic.twitter.com/R1FvWElAqQ

— Philip Proudfoot (@PhilipProudfoot) April 21, 2025