Vatican Reveals Whether Pope Will Serve On Trump’s Board Of Peace

Pope Leo XIV has declined President Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, announced Tuesday.

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 from the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with the Italian Government in Rome. Parolin added that some points of the 20-point plan to restore peace in Gaza “leave us somewhat perplexed” and that the Vatican would need “explanations” on certain aspects of the board, according to Vatican News.

“The important thing is that an attempt is being made to provide a response. However, for us there are certain critical issues that should be resolved,” Parolin continued. “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.”

Trump had made the offer to the first American leader of the Catholic Church in late January. The board will serve as an international organization to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, which is projected to cost upwards $70 billion, and deescalate conflicts across the globe.

Pope Leo XIV has been vocal