The Vatican announced this Tuesday (18) that it will not join the Peace Council created by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The decision was confirmed by the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who also defended the role of the United Nations (UN) in mediating international conflicts.
The statement came after a meeting with the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. According to Parolin, the Vatican will not participate in the new body “due to its particular nature”. In January, the cardinal had already stated that the Pope was evaluating the invitation made by Trump, but highlighted that the decision would require reflection on the scope of the proposal and its diplomatic implications.
The Peace Council was officially launched at the beginning of the year and is chaired by the United States. The American government invited dozens of countries to join the group — including Brazil — and at least 19 nations signed the charter. Italy, France and Germany have already announced that they will not participate.
Part of the international community sees the initiative as an attempt to reduce the UN’s role in crisis mediation. Trump says the council intends to invest around $5 billion in a reconstruction and “stabilization” plan for the Gaza Strip
