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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the Vatican after it declined to participate in President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, said Tuesday that global crises should primarily be managed through the United Nations. His comments came in response to Trump’s January invitation for Pope Leo to join the initiative.

Leavitt called the Vatican’s decision “deeply unfortunate,” arguing that peace efforts should not become partisan or politically divisive. She emphasized that the administration intends for the “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, with President Trump serving as chairman.

According to Leavitt, the initiative aims to rebuild a region long marked by violence and instability, describing Trump’s plan as ambitious and forward-looking. She also maintained that the board includes participation from dozens of countries.

The Vatican’s hesitation reflects its broader position that international crisis management should remain under the authority of the United Nations. In recent months, Pope Leo has publicly criticized aspects of Trump’s foreign policy and immigration approach.

Trump introduced the “Board of Peace” as part of a broader strategy to end the war in Gaza. While initially framed around that conflict, the initiative has since expanded in scope as the president promotes himself as a global peace broker.

The board was formally launched during an event held alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos. However, several Western allies did not attend, and critics have questioned both the structure of the initiative and the absence of Palestinian representation.

The administration confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was also invited to participate, despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The board’s first official meeting is scheduled to take place Thursday at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. Leavitt said that member nations are expected to pledge $5 billion toward Gaza reconstruction, along with peacekeeping support. She did not specify which countries have committed funds but stated that more than 20 nations would attend the meeting.

Speakers are expected to include President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz.

The White House described the initiative as a continuation of what it calls historic progress following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, including humanitarian aid delivery and hostage releases.

Now, step back for a second. International legitimacy is the oxygen of global governance. When the Vatican says “this belongs under the UN,” that’s not a snub born of pettiness — it’s a structural argument about who gets to arbitrate post-war reconstruction. Power, in global politics, is never just about money. It’s about who writes the rules. 🌍