Israel Deletes Online Condolence for Late Pope Francis, Sparking Diplomatic Backlash

Israel's Foreign Ministry is under scrutiny after abruptly removing a condolence post mourning the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Easter Monday. The tweet, which briefly read, “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing,” disappeared without warning just hours after publication.

The decision has triggered confusion and frustration among diplomats and officials. Israeli President Isaac Herzog had praised the pontiff as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion,” but unlike Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to issue any public statement.

Diplomatic sources, speaking to Ynet, revealed that the deletion was ordered without explanation. One diplomat said, “We asked for clarification but were told the matter was ‘under review.’ This only raised more questions.”

The deleted message, originally intended as a simple gesture of respect, now risks becoming a source of diplomatic tension. Some diplomats fear the move reflects internal disagreements tied to the late pope’s stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Pope Francis had previously described the humanitarian situation there as “shameful,” drawing criticism from Israeli officials.

In leaked messages from internal chats, another diplomat speculated, “This is clearly related to the pope’s criticism of the Gaza conflict. We were told to delete the message without further comment.”

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry later suggested that the condolence post was a mistake, stating: “We addressed the pope’s criticism during his lifetime. We will not engage further after his death. That’s our policy.”

The move is being closely watched by international observers and is already fueling debate over Israel’s diplomatic tone and public image on the global stage.

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