Pope Leo Invited to Join Trump’s ‘Peace Board’, Vatican Confirms

Vatican City, Jan 2026 : Pope Leo has been invited to join US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and top diplomatic official, confirmed on Wednesday. Cardinal Parolin said the pontiff has received the invitation and is currently weighing the proposal, adding that a response will not be rushed.

“The Pope has received the invitation and we are considering what to do,” Parolin told reporters. “I believe it will take some time to reflect carefully before any decision is taken.” He did not indicate a timeline for a formal response from the Vatican.

The “Board of Peace” was initially conceived by President Trump as a mechanism to help end the conflict in Gaza. However, Trump has since indicated that the initiative would have a far broader mandate, aiming to address and mediate conflicts in different regions of the world. While some countries, including Israel and Egypt, have reportedly accepted the invitation to participate, several others have expressed reservations. Diplomatic sources have cautioned that the new body could potentially undermine or duplicate the role of established multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations.

The Vatican press office did not immediately issue an official statement responding to Cardinal Parolin’s remarks, underscoring that discussions on the matter are still at an internal and exploratory stage.

Pope Leo, who became pontiff in May last year, is the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Since his election, he has emerged as a calm yet firm moral voice on global affairs, especially on humanitarian issues. He has been openly critical of certain policies pursued by the Trump administration in the past and has repeatedly condemned the humanitarian situation in Gaza. His concern for the plight of Palestinians was most notably reflected in a strong and emotionally charged sermon delivered on Christmas Eve.

As the spiritual leader of nearly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Leo rarely participates in formal international boards or political initiatives. Traditionally, the Vatican exercises its global influence through its extensive diplomatic network and its status as a permanent observer at the United Nations, where it actively contributes to international debates on peace, human rights and humanitarian issues.

Whether the Pope ultimately chooses to join Trump’s “Board of Peace” remains uncertain, but any decision is likely to be guided by the Vatican’s longstanding commitment to dialogue, neutrality and multilateral diplomacy.

Team Maverick.