Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, speaking to the press in Rome today about the Vatican’s position on a “Gaza Peace Board” being set up principally by US President Donald Trump to oversee the future of Gaza. Parolin said the Vatican will not participate. He said one of the reasons is that it is usually the role of the United Nations to discuss and take decisions in such situations of conflict. An estimated 70,000 Gazan civilians, including thousands of children, have died in the last two years and four months of war, since it began on October 7, 2023. Parolin spoke at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See after attending a celebration of the signing of the 1929 Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and the Italian government of Benito Mussolini. Here is a brief background video on Trump’s “Peace Board” and the invitation extended to the Vatican to join the board, from Rome Reports (link)
Letter #7, 2026, Tuesday, February 17: Cardinal Parolin
A brief note on President Donald Trump‘s proposed plans to bring peace to Gaza, and the Holy See’s reaction to those plans.
Here is a Vatican News report — Vatican News is an official Vatican news agency — from today by Alessandro Guarasci on the matter (link):
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Cardinal Parolin: Holy See will not participate in Board of Peace
The Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States,” stated Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, on the sidelines of the bilateral meeting in Rome with the Italian Government at Palazzo Borromeo, seat of the Embassy of Italy to the Holy See, on the occasion of the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Pacts.
By Alessandro Guarasci – Rome
February 17, 2026
Vatican News
The Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States.”
This is the position expressed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the sidelines of the bilateral meeting in Rome with the Italian Government at Palazzo Borromeo, seat of the Embassy of Italy to the Holy See, on the occasion of the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Pacts.
Also present at the meeting was the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Important to provide a response
In response to journalists’ questions about Italy’s participation as an observer in the Board of Peace, Cardinal Parolin pointed out that “there are points that leave us somewhat perplexed. There are some critical points that would need to find explanations.
“The important thing,” the Cardinal added, “is that an attempt is being made to provide a response. However, for us there are certain critical issues that should be resolved.”
“One concern,” the Vatican Secretary of State explained, “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.”
Pessimism regarding Ukraine
The Vatican Secretary of State also expressed concern regarding the war in Ukraine, a few days before the 4th anniversary [February 24, 2022] of the outbreak of the conflict. This has been an anniversary that is also accompanied by heavy bombardments against energy infrastructure in Kyiv and in other cities.
“Regarding Ukraine,” according to the Cardinal, “there is considerable pessimism. On both sides it does not seem to us that there are real advances regarding peace, and it is tragic that after four years, we still find ourselves at this point… One hopes that these dialogues may produce some progress, but it seems to me that there is not much hope and not many expectations.”
Gratitude to Italy for attention to issues close to the Church’s heart
Cardinal Parolin also spoke of good relations with the Government in Rome.
He emphasized that during the bilateral meeting “there was above all an expression of thanks” on the part of the Holy See for the attention that the Government has given to many issues that are close to the Church’s heart.”
Among the issues, the Cardinal cited, were “of a social nature, matters such as measures and provisions for the family, the issue of education, the issue of disability, the issue of prisons. Issues on which there are working groups that concern more directly the CEI [Italian Bishops’ Conference] and on which progress has been made.”
For additional detail, and some commentary, I quote from an article written by an American Catholic from Tennessee, a Democratic politician named Christopher Hale (he has started to send his articles to me by email). His piece is the only one I could find which shows Cardinal Parolin live, speaking in Italian, the words quoted above. I thought some of you might like to scroll down to see Parolin speaking to the press, at this link):
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Pope Leo Rejects Trump’s Gaza “Peace Board” Invitation (link)
After his top Middle East envoy denounced the plan as a “colonialist operation,” the Vatican formally declined to participate in Trump’s pay-to-play Gaza “Peace Board.”
Feb 17, 2026
On Tuesday in Rome, Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed what many had begun to suspect. Asked about President Donald Trump’s invitation for Pope Leo XIV to join the U.S.-led Gaza Peace Board, the Vatican Secretary of State gave a clear answer:
“The Vatican will not participate in the Board of Peace for Gaza.”
With that statement, Pope Leo formally declined Trump’s request for the Holy See to take part in the American-backed body overseeing Gaza’s future — marking another significant diplomatic and moral break between the Vatican and the White House.
The refusal came just days after Pope Leo’s top envoy to the Holy Land publicly blasted Trump’s Gaza plan.
On February 6, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa — the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and a trusted Leo confidant — denounced the U.S.-led “Board of Peace” as a “colonialist operation: others deciding for the Palestinians.”
In an open forum at a Roman parish, Pizzaballa warned that any so-called peace board imposed from above, with a $1 billion price tag for a seat at the table, was an affront to the very people it claimed to help.
“They asked us to enter. I’ve never had a billion dollars,” the cardinal quipped, “but above all, this is not the Church’s task: It is the sacraments, the dignity of the person.”
(…)
The pope might consider offering prayers or mediation, Parolin suggested, but “the request will not be to participate financially” because “we are not in a position to do so.”
Rome wasn’t about to pay for a permanent seat on an American-crafted board, and Leo XIV was clearly loath to endorse any plan that lacked Palestinian voices.
Indeed, as Pizzaballa noted, “any initiative cannot fly without the engagement of the Palestinian people themselves.” The stage was set for Leo’s refusal long before the invitation ever landed on his desk.
[End, Substack piece by Christopher Hale]
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Special Note: In my letter #6 of yesterday, I republished an article about the February 2 decision of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to consecrate bishops this July, without Rome’s approval. The article was by American journalist Diane Montagna on her Substack page. In my letter yesterday, I included Diane’s Substack page link (here), but, in an oversight, I neglected to give her name as the author of the article. I encourage readers to subscribe to Diane’s Substack page at link. —RM
Final Note: See below for information about several pilgrimages we are offering in coming months.
Rooted in Hope: Private Island Retreat with Bishop Athanasius Schneider
June 15 – June 21, 2026
Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages invites you to join a special Pilgrimage and Retreat with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, June 15-21, 2026.
Highlights of our Croatia: Retreat with Bishop Schneider, June 2026
- Five-day private island retreat with Bishop Schneider at an ancient, recently restored monastery
- Daily Mass celebrated in the Traditional Latin Rite
- Free time to pray, explore the island, swim in the blue Adriatic waters, walk with other pilgrims along the island path, and travel to nearby islands in a private boat
- One night in Split with time to explore the city on your own
Our Lady of Lebanon, where we will have a Private Mass on pilgrimage
Come with us to the land where Christ walked…
Join Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages in Lebanon, September 19-28, 2026.
What our pilgrims are saying:
“It was an amazing pilgrimage, on so many levels. The tour organizers really delivered. Lebanon is a beautiful country, but right now going through a lot of hardships. But we felt very safe on this trip, the only surprises were good ones. Kindness and concern were extended to each of us. We were impressed, and ready to sign up for the next tour.” — from Diane, Massachusetts, USA. Diane and her daughter Michelle joined our first Lebanon Pilgrimage in September 2022
