The Vatican has declined an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” insisting that international crises should primarily be handled by the United Nations.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s top diplomat, confirmed Tuesday that the Vatican would not participate in the initiative, citing its unique status and longstanding diplomatic approach.
“The Holy See will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other states,” Parolin said. He emphasized that crisis management at the international level should remain under the purview of the United Nations a position the Vatican has consistently supported.
The board, initially proposed under Trump’s Gaza plan that resulted in a fragile ceasefire in October, was designed to oversee temporary governance in Gaza. Trump later announced plans to broaden the body’s mandate to address global conflicts, with himself as chair. Its inaugural meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Washington, where discussions will focus on Gaza’s reconstruction.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a known critic of certain Trump policies, had reportedly received an invitation to join the board in January. However, the Vatican reiterated that the pope rarely participates in international governing bodies, maintaining instead its role as a diplomatic and moral voice on global issues.
While Italy and the European Union have indicated they will attend the meeting as observers, they have not formally joined the board. Several of Washington’s Middle Eastern allies have signed on, but key Western partners have remained cautious.
The initiative has faced criticism from rights experts, who argue that a U.S.-led body supervising the affairs of a foreign territory could resemble a colonial-style structure. Concerns have also been raised over the absence of Palestinian representation and the possibility that the board could undermine the authority of the United Nations.
The ceasefire in Gaza, which began in October, has been repeatedly violated, with reports of continued casualties among Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.
According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 72,000 people have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began, triggering widespread displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Israel maintains that its actions constitute self-defense following the late 2023 attack by Hamas militants that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages. However, several rights groups, scholars and a UN inquiry have described the situation as amounting to genocide a characterization Israel strongly rejects.
The Vatican, which represents the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and holds permanent observer status at the United Nations, has repeatedly voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza while advocating for multilateral solutions to global conflicts.
