Vatican City – The Vatican will not participate in President Donald Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace,” a post-war initiative intended to oversee recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip, its top diplomatic official announced Tuesday. The decision signals a reluctance from the Holy See to join the U.S.-led effort, citing concerns over the initiative’s structure and the primacy of the United Nations in managing international crises.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, stated that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States,” according to reports. The board, initially chartered in January, aims to coordinate reconstruction and governance in Gaza following the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Vatican’s decision comes as other nations likewise weigh their involvement in the U.S.-backed project.
Concerns Over UN’s Role in Crisis Management
Cardinal Parolin articulated the Vatican’s primary concern: the belief that the United Nations should be the leading body in managing international crisis situations. “One concern is that, at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted,” he said. This stance underscores the Vatican’s long-held preference for multilateral solutions through established international organizations. The Vatican received an invitation to join the board from President Trump in January, and has been considering its response since then.
The Board of Peace, which initially included nearly 20 countries, was conceived as a body to supervise the ceasefire in Gaza and coordinate the strip’s reconstruction. However, its scope has since been expanded, with President Trump suggesting it could address a range of global disputes. Some observers view the initiative as an attempt to establish an alternative multilateral forum to the UN, which the U.S. President has repeatedly criticized.
Growing List of Nations Hesitant to Join
The Vatican is not alone in its hesitation. Italy and Poland announced Wednesday they would not be joining the board, adding to a growing list of nations expressing reservations. Israel formally joined the board last week, ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump at the White House, Reuters reported. Several other countries, including Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, Ukraine, Ireland, Greece, and China, were also invited by the White House.
President Trump announced Sunday that members of the Board of Peace have pledged more than $5 billion in aid for Gaza, with a formal pledge meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The funding is intended to support reconstruction efforts and address humanitarian needs in the region.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. Pope, received the invitation to join the board in January. The Vatican’s decision reflects a careful consideration of the initiative’s implications for international diplomacy and the role of the United Nations.
What to Expect Next
The Vatican’s decision not to participate in President Trump’s Board of Peace underscores the complexities of international cooperation in addressing global crises. As other nations continue to evaluate their involvement, the future of the initiative remains uncertain. The focus will likely shift to the upcoming meeting in Washington, D.C., where pledged aid will be formalized and the board’s operational plans will be further developed. The international community will be watching closely to see how the Board of Peace navigates the challenges of coordinating aid and reconstruction in Gaza, particularly in light of the Vatican’s preference for a UN-led approach.
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