Vatican Responds to Donald Trump's Invitation to Join His Board of Peace

The U.S. president has invited the Vatican to join his new peace initiative, placing the Holy See at the center of a high-profile diplomatic proposal. Rome has now delivered its answer.

Vatican City has formally stated its position on President Donald Trump’s proposed peace initiative for the region. The statement was delivered during a diplomatic engagement in Rome.

The development comes as international debate continues over how post-conflict efforts should be structured and which institutions should take the lead. The U.S. government later responded to the Vatican's decision.

Donald Trump Unveils a New Peace Framework

In January, Trump unveiled the Board of Peace as part of what the White House described as a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict and guide the territory's transition toward peace and development.

According to a White House release, the Board is tasked with advancing all 20 elements of the president's plan by overseeing implementation, coordinating global support, and maintaining accountability during the transition period.

Chaired by Trump, the body is supported by a founding executive panel made up of individuals with backgrounds in diplomacy, infrastructure, economic planning, and international development.

Administration officials signaled that international participation would be welcomed. A senior Trump administration official told the New York Post, "The Pope and Vatican are welcome to join the many other nations who are committed to the Board of Peace."

The official declined to elaborate on diplomatic outreach, stating, "We're not going to get into the details of diplomatic conversations."

But in Rome, the invitation would receive a carefully measured reply.

Vatican Draws a Clear Line

The Vatican's response came this week during a bilateral meeting in Rome between the Holy See and the Italian government. The gathering took place at Palazzo Borromeo, the seat of the Embassy of Italy to the Holy See, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Pacts.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella was also present at the meeting.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin addressed journalists' questions about participation in the Board of Peace.

According to Vatican News, Parolin stated that the Holy See "will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States."

He acknowledged that efforts are being made to provide a response to the crisis. However, he indicated that aspects of the proposal raise concerns.

Parolin said some points leave them "somewhat perplexed," indicating that elements of the proposal remain unclear from the Vatican's perspective.

He added that some "critical points" would require further explanation and stressed that certain issues must ultimately be resolved before the Holy See could reconsider its stance.

Parolin also pointed to a broader principle guiding the Vatican's position.

"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."

Washington Pushes Back

The White House moved quickly to address the Vatican's decision. Speaking to reporters, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the initiative:

"I don't think that peace should be partisan or political or controversial. And of course, the administration wants all those who were invited to join the board of peace to join."

She described the Board as a formal international initiative supported by numerous countries and emphasized that the administration considers the Vatican's refusal an "unfortunate decision."

Trump has previously spoken positively about Pope Leo XIV following his election as head of the Catholic Church.

In a May 2025 post on Truth Social, Trump publicly acknowledged the new pontiff, marking an early moment of recognition between the two leaders.

Pope Leo on Politics and Engagement with Trump

Pope Leo XIV has previously addressed questions about politics and his American identity in the context of global leadership.

In the book "El Papa León XIV. Ciudadano Del Mundo, Misionero Del Siglo XXI by Elise Ann Allen," he reflected on becoming the first pope from the U.S.

He said he hopes his nationality could eventually influence the U.S. Church, noting that critics can no longer claim an American pope "does not understand the United States."

At the same time, Pope Leo XIV made clear: "I don't plan to get involved in partisan politics."

Regarding Trump, he said it would be more appropriate for U.S. Church leaders to engage directly with the president. However, he added that if specific issues arose, he would have "no problem" engaging when necessary.

He pointed to Pope Francis's letter on the treatment of migrants as an example of how American bishops responded with courage. He suggested that working primarily through the U.S. episcopate is, in his view, the better approach.

Pope Leo XIV also acknowledged that the U.S. plays a major role globally. He said decisions are sometimes driven more by economic interests than by human dignity, and emphasized the need to continue raising questions about those choices.

While Trump has said a meeting between them was not on the agenda, Pope Leo XIV noted that his brother Louis had met the president and had openly shared his political views.

Pope Leo XIV's approach to politics and leadership is shaped by a journey that began far from the Vatican.

From Chicago to the Apostolic Palace

As previously reported, Pope Leo XIV's early years included missionary work in Peru, life in a modest seminary dorm, and a childhood home near a Chicago train yard — long before the gold Fisherman's Ring and electric popemobile.

Humble Beginnings in a Chicago Suburb

Tucked away in the quiet suburb of Dolton, just outside Chicago, stands the unassuming brick cottage of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home.

Onlookers gather outside the house at 212 as the Village of Dolton enters talks to purchase the property where the Pope once lived.

As it continues attracting national attention, the unassuming three-bedroom house where Pope Leo XIV grew up has quickly become a point of pride and pilgrimage.

The modest entryway opens into a bright and simply finished space, reflecting the unadorned charm of a working-class American home.

Initially listed for $199,000, the now-famous home has sparked a surge of interest and significantly higher offers.

The small kitchen has been outfitted with modern finishes, but it's easy to imagine the Prevost family sharing simple meals here decades ago.

This small downstairs room is believed to have served as his parents' bedroom, grounding the home's compact design in practical, shared living.

This simple upstairs room, likely once shared by the Pope and his brothers, highlights the modest beginnings of a man now leading the Catholic Church.

With its clean lines and natural light, the home's third bedroom has been modernized but retains the quiet intimacy of a typical mid-century family home.

Just blocks from his childhood home, the now-closed St. Mary of the Assumption Church and school, where Pope Leo XIV studied as a boy, may soon gain protected landmark status.

Though his original school has since closed, the spirit of community education lives on in local Catholic institutions like St. Benedict's.

A Life of Service in Peru

Pope Leo XIV spent more than two decades living and serving in Peru, alternating between the cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo. First arriving in the 1980s as a young missionary, he would go on to lead a seminary in Trujillo and later serve as bishop of Chiclayo.

This basic kitchen, part of a local outreach initiative, was supported by Pope Leo XIV during his missionary years.

A hand-painted sign outside the restaurant, "Las Américas," proudly declares, "Aquí comió el Papa" — "The Pope ate here."

Inside the restaurant, visitors still order the dish Pope Leo XIV loved — a hearty plate of rice, beans, and seasoned goat meat.

This modest room in Trujillo once housed Pope Leo XIV during his years running an Augustinian seminary. The space, now adorned with his photograph, reflects the quiet discipline and spiritual devotion that marked his mission work there.

With little more than a single bed, a nightstand, and a crucifix on the wall, the room where Pope Leo XIV lived speaks to his vow of simplicity.

Years in Rome

Just steps from St. Peter's Square, the Pontifical Augustinian Institute in Rome, Italy, served as Pope Leo XIV's home base during his 12-year tenure as General Prior of the Augustinian order, from 2001 to 2013.

His time here was marked by intellectual leadership, global travel, and moments of leisure — including frequent matches on the institute's tennis court, where the new pope was known for his strong backhand and quiet focus.

A New Era in the Apostolic Palace

After decades of living simply, Pope Leo XIV has now stepped into one of the most storied residences in Christendom — the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

A ceremonial red ribbon marked the official reopening of the papal apartment wing — a quiet end to its years as a symbolic museum.

The new pope personally opened the sealed doors to the apartments, signaling a new phase of occupancy and leadership.

Pope Leo XIV toured his new residence inside the Apostolic Palace, which had been closed off for over a decade.

Inside one of the palace's private reception rooms, Pope Leo XIV has met with foreign leaders — a return to formal Vatican diplomacy in its traditional setting.

A guard stands watch in the ornately painted corridors of the Apostolic Palace — now once again an active papal residence.

The palace, known for its Renaissance frescoes and marble floors, blends artistic legacy with papal governance.

A Vatican consultant publicly defended Pope Leo XIV's choice to move into the palace, citing a need for privacy and dignity following his lifestyle change, not excess.

The grand papal apartments had remained largely unused for over a decade, as Pope Francis chose the humbler Casa Santa Marta guesthouse and even turned the summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo into a public museum.

The once-museum halls of the Apostolic Palace have now reopened as living quarters, including the ornate reception room bearing the seal of a past pope.

Inside the private chapel, Pope Leo XIV paused in silent prayer, surrounded by marble, mosaics, and centuries of sacred tradition.

Following his election, the traditional gold Fisherman's Ring — newly crafted for each pope — was placed on Pope Leo XIV's hand, marking his full assumption of the papal office.

The ring, valued at nearly $600,000, bears the image of St. Peter casting his net — a nod to the pope's role as spiritual fisher of souls.

The latest addition to the Vatican motor pool is a custom-built, fully electric Mercedes-Benz popemobile, reportedly worth $500,000.

Pope Leo XIV was also seen leaving the Apostolic Palace in a new black Volkswagen bearing the SCV1 license plate — the official mark of the Holy See.

For the first time in over a decade, the papal banner flew from the Apostolic Palace's upper window, signaling that a new pope once again resides there.

From a modest childhood home in Chicago to the grandeur of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV's journey is reflected in the places he's called home — each one offering a glimpse into the values, service, and traditions that have shaped his path.