The Vatican has officially rejected President Trump's invitation for Pope Leo XIV to join his innovative Board of Peace, a disappointing decision that puts the Catholic Church on the sidelines while 26 nations have already embraced America's bold new approach to Middle East diplomacy.
The Vatican's top diplomat delivered the snub to Trump's peace initiative, which was specifically designed to broker lasting peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East region. The Board of Peace has already attracted heavyweight participation from 26 countries, including Argentina, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with additional nations expressing strong interest in joining.
"Of course the administration wants all those who were invited to join the Board of Peace to join," a White House source confirmed, highlighting the disappointment over the Vatican's refusal to participate in what could be the most significant peace initiative in decades.
Trump's Vision vs. Vatican Politics
President Trump extended the invitation to Pope Leo XIV last month, recognizing the moral authority and global influence the Catholic Church could bring to peace negotiations. The Board of Peace represents exactly the kind of innovative, results-oriented diplomacy that Trump promised American voters – bringing together diverse nations under U.S. leadership to solve complex international problems.
Instead of embracing this historic opportunity to advance peace, the Vatican chose to sit on the sidelines. This decision raises serious questions about whether the Church's hierarchy is more interested in virtue signaling than actually working toward tangible solutions for suffering people in the Middle East.
"While other world leaders recognize the importance of American leadership in securing peace, the Vatican apparently prefers to remain aloof from the hard work of diplomacy."
The contrast couldn't be starker: 26 nations from across the globe – including Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan and Qatar – see the value in Trump's peace initiative, yet the Vatican declines to participate. This represents a missed opportunity for the Catholic Church to demonstrate meaningful leadership on one of the world's most pressing conflicts.
As Trump continues building this unprecedented coalition for peace, Americans should ask themselves: why is the Vatican choosing politics over peace?