In his statement, Parolin emphasized that the "Council of Peace" does not align with the characteristics of the Vatican. "No, we will not participate in this Council, as its nature clearly differs from that of other states. (…) Nevertheless, we take into account that Italy intends to participate as an observer," he noted.
The Cardinal also reminded that last month the Vatican received an invitation to become part of the Council. He stated that the Holy See "takes note" of the Italian government's decision to participate, but sees "certain critical points that require resolution." In particular, he emphasized that crisis situations on the international stage are traditionally regulated through the UN, which the Vatican insists upon.
The creation of the "Council of Peace" became part of Donald Trump's initiative to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The formation of the new body was announced in January 2026, and about 60 world leaders received invitations to join, some of whom became founding countries. Trump was appointed as the first chairman of the Council, and the ceremony for its establishment took place on January 22 in Davos.
