Jerusalem, 25 April

Hours after Pope Francis' death was announced, Israel's Foreign Ministry posted a short message on X: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing." Several hours later, it was deleted withoutexplanation.

Coming at a time of effusive global mourning over Francis' death, the decision to delete the post appeared to reflect the tensions that have emerged between Israel and the Vatican over Francis' frequent criticism of Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza. The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the deletion.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is usually quick to issue statements on the passing of major international figures. But he has been silent on the pope's death, as has Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. The only official condolences came from Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role and who praised Francis for being “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.”

For most of Francis' papacy, ties between Israel and the Vatican steadily improved — highlighted by a visit to the Holy Land in 2014.

But everything changed after the war in Gaza erupted with Hamas' deadly attack in southern Israel on 7 October, 2023.

While expressing sympathy for Israeli victims and hostages, Francis has suggested Israel's subsequent attacks in Gaza and Lebanon were “immoral” and disproportionate. He also called for an investigation to determine if Israel's attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, a charge Israel denies while investigations at the UN's top courts proceed.

“Pope Francis condemned what happened on 7 Oct, but he was clear also that what happened on 7 October does not justify what has been happening since 7 Oct.” said Wadie Abunassar, who heads a group that represents Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Pope Francis was like a friend who tells the truth, even if that's not exactly what you want to hear, Abunassar said.

Throughout the war, Francis walked a delicate balance between his close ties with Israel and condemning the devastating losses in Gaza, according to Amnon Ramon, an expert on Christianity in Israel and a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research. Francis was exceptionally close to Gaza's local parish priest, who, like the former pontiff, is from Argentina.