Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has confirmed the Holy See would not join the United States-led Board of Peace, an international body chaired by President Donald Trump to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza. Source: 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,” Cardinal Parolin said yesterday.
He made the comments 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 the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Pacts.
Also present at the meeting was the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
In response to journalists’ questions about Italy’s participation as an observer in the Board of Peace, 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 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, Cardinal Parolin said, was 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.
“Regarding Ukraine, 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,” Cardinal Parolin said.
Meanwhile, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has strongly criticised the Board of Peace.
Italian news channel RAI asked Cardinal Pizzaballa his thoughts on the Board of Peace at a February 6 event in Rome.
“What do I think of the Board of Peace? I think it is a colonialist operation: others deciding for the Palestinians,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said, according to a report by Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.
The cardinal also commented on the invitation extended to the Vatican to join the international body and its $1 billion price tag for a permanent seat on the board.
“I would answer very candidly,” he added. “They asked us to enter. I’ve never had a billion (dollars), but above all, this is not the Church’s task: It is the sacraments, the dignity of the person.”
FULL STORY
Cardinal Parolin: Holy See will not participate in Board of Peace (By Alessandro Guarasci, Vatican News)
US-led Board of Peace a ‘Colonialist operation’ Cardinal Pizzaballa says (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
