It looks like the Pope is not a fan of President Donald Trump. The Vatican will not participate in Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations.
What is Trump’s Board of Peace?
The Board of Peace is an initiative established in 2025 and continuing into 2026 under the leadership of President Trump. It is designed to coordinate international assistance and governance efforts in conflict zones, initially focusing on Gaza’s temporary governance and reconstruction. The initiative has been publicly discussed in early 2026, with meetings held in Washington and invitations extended to multiple countries.
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Participation in the Board has been mixed. Several countries and organizations, including the Vatican, have declined to join, emphasizing that established multilateral institutions like the United Nations should lead crisis management.
The Board represents a U.S.-led effort to build a coalition for conflict response outside traditional U.N. mechanisms, aiming to provide rapid assistance and reconstruction support.
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope and a critic of some of Trump’s policies, was invited to join the board in January.
The Board of Peace reflects an effort by the United States to create a framework for addressing international crises outside traditional multilateral institutions. Its establishment underscores the continuing interest of national leaders in promoting rapid, targeted responses to humanitarian and governance challenges, particularly in regions experiencing prolonged conflict or instability.
While the initiative signals ambition in U.S. foreign policy, it also highlights the complexities of building coalitions in a multipolar world where participation is voluntary and political considerations influence engagement.
The Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States,” said Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the sidelines of the bilateral meeting in Rome with the Italian Government at Palazzo Borromeo.
Organizations and states may weigh diplomatic implications, precedent, and alignment with international law before committing to new bodies, particularly when these initiatives involve controversial or high-profile leaders. The Vatican’s decision to abstain, for example, illustrates how historical norms, institutional priorities, and perceived roles in global governance shape responses to novel proposals.
The initiative could serve as a model for future U.S.-led efforts in crisis management, but its ultimate success will likely depend on continued participation, transparency, and alignment with international norms