Vatican says it will not participate in Trump's 'Board of Peace'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

February 17, 2026 11:39 PM EST Updated 7 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The Vatican will not participate in U.S. President Donald 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. Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope and a critic of some of Trump's policies, was invited to join the board in January.

Under Trump's Gaza plan that led to a fragile ceasefire in October, the board was meant to supervise Gaza's temporary governance. Trump thereafter said the board, with him as chair, would be expanded to tackle global conflicts. The board will hold its first meeting in Washington on Thursday to discuss Gaza's reconstruction.

Italy and the European Union have said their representatives plan to attend as observers as they have not joined the board. The Holy See "will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States," Parolin said. "One concern," he said, "is that at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted."

Many rights experts say that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory's affairs resembled a colonial structure. The board launched last month has also faced criticism for not including a Palestinian.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/vatican-says-it-will-not-participate-trumps-board-peace-2026-02-18/

[Walleye]

1. Next, he will copyright Gaza, and claim that he can sell merchandise with the name on it

[Bayard]

6. "trump's Gaza," on tshirts

I can see it.

The Vatican is right on this one. Not even one Palestinian on this, "board," so its just another money making machine, and Gaza loses.

[lostincalifornia]

2. and neither should anyone else. This is just an elitist club for the wealthy. He is trying to destroy the UN, and

while some may have legitimate complaints about the UN, it isn't a "rich boy's club" that require one billion dollars to join.

[twodogsbarking]

3. I smell a tariff on communion wafers and rosary beads.

[travelingthrulife]

4. Jeez. I should hope not.

This Board of Grifters is not a good look on anyone

[riversedge]

5. Wise choice IMHO

[Talitha]

7. Bravo, Vatican!

Very diplomatic way of telling Dump to pound sand.

[MayReasonRule]

8. When You're So Evil The Institution Behind The Spanish Inquisition Declines To Participate

Speaks volumes.

[wolfie001]

9. Bored of Peace

fat orange imbecile

[BlueKota]

10. I ❤️Pope Leo.

His continued chastising of tsf, and rejection of the phony christianity, the magats are trying to sell deserve appreciation. I wish more would follow his lead.

Way to go Papa Pope. Not ready to go back to the church yet, but he's returning it to at least within the realm of possibility.

[Jack Valentino]

11. I'd bet that Trump's having previously posted a meme of himself in the pope's robes

on his social media didn't help him any here---- LOL