Overview
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Pope Leo XIV received President Trump's invitation and that a decision will take time.
- Parolin noted countries are asked to contribute financially and said the Holy See is not in a position to do so.
- A senior White House official said 35 countries have accepted, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Hungary, Turkey and Belarus, while invitations to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping remain unanswered.
- The Board of Peace was launched to oversee Gaza's rebuilding with plans to expand to wider conflict de-escalation, and a public signing event was held at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
- Some diplomats warn the initiative could duplicate United Nations work, and the Vatican's possible role is unusual because popes rarely join international boards.