Holy See opts out of Trump’s international “Board of Peace”

Board of Peace Forum in the USA. Photo: open sources

The Holy See has officially confirmed its refusal to take part in the “Board of Peace” initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. This was stated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, in Rome on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting between Italy and the Holy See, according to Tribune Chrétienne.

Cardinal Parolin noted that the Vatican has reservations about a number of provisions within the project and stressed that the settlement of international crises primarily falls within the competence of the United Nations. According to him, the UN’s role as the central platform for the peaceful resolution of conflicts is a principled position of the Holy See.

The “Board of Peace” was initially conceived as a structure to coordinate transitional governance and the reconstruction of Gaza, but its mandate was later expanded. A number of countries from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe joined the initiative. At the same time, some Western states, including members of the European Union, preferred to participate in discussions only as observers.

The Vatican’s refusal is explained by the Holy See’s special status as a subject of international law. Its diplomacy has traditionally been built on principles of neutrality and multilateralism, enabling it to maintain a mediating role and distance from specific geopolitical blocs. By underscoring the priority of the United Nations, the Holy See reaffirmed its commitment to the existing system of international law and to its own autonomous diplomatic line.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Pope had called on Orthodox Christians to “disarm their hearts” for the sake of unity.

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