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 about the state of Palestinians in Gaza. In August, he pleaded for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and demanded Israel stop the “collective punishment” and displacement of Gazans.
The Chicago native also called for all the hostages taken by Hamas to be released and for the war that “has caused so much terror, destruction and death” to come to an end.
“I beg for a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated and humanitarian law to be fully respected,” Leo said.
Thirty five countries have accepted Trump’s invitation to join the board. Leaders from Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Turkey are among those who have accepted the invite, and Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not made a decision about joining the board. If member nations are looking to join the board permanently, they must contribute $1 billion.
Notably, none of the U.S.’ major Western European allies have joined the board, which will have its first in-person gathering in Washington D.C. on Feb. 19.
The White House and the Vatican did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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