Pope Leo XIV has officially declined an invitation from former President Donald Trump to join his proposed “Board of Peace,” citing serious concerns about the initiative’s structure and its role in international diplomacy.
The Vatican confirmed the decision this week through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who explained that the Holy See could not participate in a project that might override established multilateral institutions like the United Nations. “For us, there are some critical issues that should be resolved,” he said, emphasizing that crisis management at the global level should remain the domain of the UN.
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Trump first revealed the idea in January as a Gaza-focused effort to oversee ceasefires and aid reconstruction following the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas. Since then, he has expanded the proposal, describing it as a “results-driven” forum to resolve global disputes, with the U.S. leading efforts and more than $5 billion already pledged for humanitarian and stabilization initiatives.
Despite the ambitious plans, Vatican officials have expressed unease over the board’s legitimacy. A proposed membership roster has drawn diplomatic criticism: Vladimir Putin, still waging war in Ukraine; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid the Gaza conflict; and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose support for the 2003 Iraq war remains controversial. While dozens of nations have pledged some form of participation, the Vatican has opted to remain neutral.
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