Pope Leo has rejected an invitation from President Donald Trump to join the proposed Board of Peace, signaling firm support for the United Nations as the primary body to manage global crises.
The decision places Pope Leo at odds with Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, which the US President has promoted as a new platform for international conflict resolution.
The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Pope declined after reviewing the proposal and identifying unresolved concerns. He said the Vatican believes international emergencies should be handled through established multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations. That position, he said, has long guided Vatican diplomacy.
Vatican concerns and Pope Leo’s rejection of the ‘Board of Peace’
Trump has invited a range of global leaders to take part in the board. He initially presented the group as a mechanism to monitor a ceasefire in Gaza and oversee reconstruction following the war between Hamas and Israel.
He later expanded the mission, saying it could address other international conflicts. Critics argue the effort reflects Trump’s desire to build an alternative to the United Nations, which he has repeatedly dismissed as ineffective.
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Pope & Vatican City has declined Trump's invitation to the BOARD OF PEACE. pic.twitter.com/vG253leaw0
— Important World Updates (@muncherT100) February 18, 2026
Parolin had confirmed earlier this year that Pope Leo received the invitation and that the Vatican was reviewing it. He said the request required careful consideration and made clear the Vatican would not provide financial support, citing limited resources. Trump has claimed the board has already pledged more than $5 billion to Gaza’s rebuilding.
The board’s proposed membership has drawn sharp criticism. European governments expressed surprise at Trump’s decision to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Arab governments have objected to the inclusion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pointing to the Gaza war and the reported deaths of 72,000 Palestinians.
Concerns have also focused on the prominent role given to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to serve on the board’s founding executive. Blair remains a divisive figure because of Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War.
International backlash over board membership and leadership choices
Despite the controversy, dozens of countries have agreed to participate, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates.
The dispute adds to ongoing tensions between Pope Leo and Trump. Since becoming the first American pontiff, the Pope has openly challenged Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration.
He has questioned whether strict enforcement measures align with Catholic teachings on human dignity. The White House has rejected those criticisms, saying the administration enforces immigration law humanely.
Earlier this year, the Pope also warned diplomats that global diplomacy is increasingly giving way to force, condemning what he described as a growing international appetite for war.
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