Holy See will not participate in Trump's Board of Peace

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Source: Vatican Media

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has confirmed that the Holy See has declined an invitation to join President Trump's Board of Peace.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a 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, the Cardinal explained the Holy See would not take part in the Board of Peace "because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States,"

Cardinal Parolin said: "there are points that leave us somewhat perplexed. There are some critical points that would need to find explanations.

The important thing," he said "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 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."

The Vatican Secretary of State also expressed concern regarding the war in Ukraine, a few days before the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict. This has been an anniversary that is also accompanied by heavy bombing on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and in other cities.

"Regarding Ukraine, there is considerable pessimism." Cardinal Parolin said. " 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."

The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was present at the meeting. Cardinal Parolin 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."