The Holy See Declines Donald Trump’s Invitation to the Peace Council

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

The Holy See has officially announced that it will not participate in the Board of Peace, the international body launched by U.S. President Donald Trump. This decision, made by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, reaffirms the commitment of papal diplomacy to multilateralism and the primacy of the UN.

It is a diplomatic, but firm, “no.” On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, put an end to speculation surrounding the Catholic Church’s participation in Donald Trump’s flagship project for managing global crises.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Rome, the Vatican’s “number two” clarified that the Holy See would not join the Board of Peace, citing the “particular nature” of the Papal State, which distinguishes it from other temporal powers.

What is the Board of Peace?

Officially launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026, the Board of Peace is an international body conceived by Donald Trump to bypass traditional diplomatic channels. Chaired by Trump himself—whose charter suggests a permanent chairmanship—this organization initially aims to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following a fragile ceasefire achieved last October.

The initiative proposes a "transactional" approach to peace: member countries are invited to contribute financially to a reconstruction fund (there is talk of pledges already exceed $5 billion) in exchange for a seat at the decision-making table. The Board plans to establish an executive committee for Gaza (the NCAG) and an international stabilization force.

The Holy See's Refusal

The Vatican, approached as early as last January, took its time to analyze the situation. Pope Leo XIV—the first American Pontiff—ultimately made his decision. For Cardinal Parolin, the major concern lies in the weakening of international institutions established after the Second World War.

“We insist that at the international level, it is primarily the UN that must manage these crisis situations,” he declared, marking a profound divergence from the view of the White House occupant, who considers the United Nations “ineffective.”

Beyond the matter of principle, the Holy See also ruled out any financial participation, reiterating that its mission is spiritual and humanitarian, and not linked to defense investments or political reconstruction.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa—the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, responsible for overseeing the Catholics of the Holy Land, most of whom are of Palestinian origin—did not hesitate to call the American president’s initiative “colonialist,” denouncing any attempt to decide the fate of the Palestinians without their consent.

True to its tradition of "active neutrality," papal diplomacy prefers to continue working in the shadows, far from centralized and politicized structures, in order to remain a bridge between all parties in conflict, without being tied to the interests of a single administration.

(Sources : Vatican News/EWTN News – FSSPX.Actualités)

Illustration : Vatican News