Pope Francis has declined an invitation to participate in Donald Trump's Board of Peace (Bop), as confirmed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's foreign minister, shortly before the board's inaugural meeting. The Pope's decision highlights the Vatican's preference for multilateral institutions in addressing global peace and crisis situations.

Cardinal Parolin articulated that the Vatican believes that international peace efforts and crisis management should be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations, rather than through unilateral initiatives like Trump's Board of Peace. This stance reflects not only the Pope's diplomatic priorities but also a broader concern regarding the effectiveness of various peace strategies being proposed in today's complex geopolitical landscape.

This decision may have implications for Trump's peace initiatives, potentially undermining their legitimacy in the eyes of many global leaders and citizens who may perceive the Vatican's absence as a significant gap in support. The refusal also signifies a potential clash between the Vatican's traditional diplomatic approaches and the contemporary, often more polarized environment of international relations.