Vatican Declines Trump’s Invitation for Peace Commission

Pope Leo XIV has decided not to join a peace commission initiated by President Donald Trump, aimed at addressing the situation in Gaza, as stated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s chief diplomat.

Efforts to mediate peace are already in progress, with participation from leaders representing 26 countries, such as Argentina, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. There has been interest in further participation from various parties.

Cardinal Parolin revealed that the president had extended an invitation to the pope last month. Initially, he mentioned that the invitation was under consideration, but on Tuesday he confirmed that the pope would not join the board.

Parolin expressed concerns regarding the role of the international community, emphasizing the importance of organizations like the United Nations in managing such crisis situations.

He also mentioned that the Vatican cannot provide the financial contributions that are expected from the other participating countries in this initiative, stating, “We’re not even in a position to do that. Obviously, we are in a different situation than other countries, so that will be a different consideration.” However, he doubted financial participation was the main focus of the request.

The White House issued a statement expressing disappointment about the Vatican’s decision. Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt remarked, “We don’t believe peace should be partisan, political, or controversial. And of course, the administration wants everyone who is invited to join the peace commission to do so.” She further pointed out that the board comprises members from various countries worldwide.

The board includes notable figures such as Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, with Trump overseeing the commission.

This peace commission stems from a 20-point proposal introduced by the White House, which covers aspects like the demilitarization and rebuilding of Gaza. The proposal was unveiled in September 2025 during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump has mentioned that this initiative represents the closest they’ve come to achieving genuine peace, declaring, “It’s not a false peace. It’s not a political fool’s peace.” Netanyahu added, “You can do this the easy way, or you can do it the hard way,” implying that a solution is inevitable, and preferring a more straightforward path.

The president offered his full backing to Israel if Hamas chooses to reject the deal.