Upon exiting Palazzo Borromeo, home of the Italian Embassy to the Sana Sede, Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks with journalists and explains that the Vatican will not take part in the Board of Peace wanted by Donald Trump «due to its particular nature which is not that of other States”. It should also be remembered that in recent weeks the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, had defined the board as “a colonialist operation”. Regarding the Italian position, the Vatican Secretary of State adds that there are many critical points in participation, even as an observer country, in the body set up by the US president. First of all the need for the UN to deal with international issues. “We have taken note that Italy will participate as an observer,” the cardinal declared in response to the question of what he thought of Italy’s participation. And he added: «There are points that leave you a little perplexed, critical points that
they would need to find explanations. The important thing is that we have attempted to give an answer but for us there are critical issues that should be resolved. The concern is that at an international level, let the UN manage these crisis situations”.
As regards relations with Italy, the Secretary of State reported that various issues were addressed, including that concerning the prison situation. «Above all, there was thanks on our part for the attention that the Government has paid to many issues that are close to the Church’s heart, issues of a social nature. Topics such as provisions for the family, the topic of education and disability, the topic of prisons. On these issues there are working groups that concern the CEI more directly and on which steps forward have been made.”
Pessimistic, however, about the war Ukraine: «We don’t think there is any real progress regarding peace. We hope that the ongoing dialogues can produce some progress, but there is not much hope and much expectation.”
