The Vatican has declined to participate in U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” saying global crisis management should remain under the authority of the United Nations, according to CNN.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomat, said the Holy See was left “perplexed” by key elements of the plan and cited unresolved concerns.
On Feb. 17, Cardinal Pietro Parolin announced that the Holy See will not participate in President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” citing the Vatican’s unique international role and concerns about operating outside the United Nations framework. While affirming the… pic.twitter.com/sEVY4kptio
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) February 18, 2026
He stressed that the UN should take the lead in handling international conflicts. The board was initially envisioned to oversee Gaza reconstruction but has since expanded into a broader global peacekeeping body chaired indefinitely by Trump.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, was invited to join but declined. Britain, France, and Norway have also opted out amid concerns about the board’s scope and its potential impact on existing international institutions.
The board is scheduled to meet for the first time in Washington this week.
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