Vatican City – The Vatican has confirmed it will not participate in US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” saying crisis management should remain under the authority of the United Nations.
Pope Leo XIV was invited last month to join the board, which was initially created to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction but has since expanded into a broader global peacekeeping initiative. However, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Vatican would not accept the invitation, noting that officials were left “perplexed” by elements of the plan and believed “critical issues” remained unresolved.
Parolin stressed that, at the international level, the United Nations should be responsible for handling crisis situations — a position the Vatican has consistently supported. He added that the Holy See would not take part in the board due to its “particular nature,” distinguishing it from other states that may attend as observers.
The board, which will be chaired indefinitely by Trump, is scheduled to hold its first meeting in Washington on Thursday. Several countries, including Britain, France and Norway, have also declined to join, amid concerns over the board’s expanded mandate and its potential implications for the UN’s role in global peacekeeping.
