OREANDA-NEWS   The Vatican refused to participate in the Peace Council of US President Donald Trump and stressed the role of the United Nations in resolving international crises. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, made a statement to this effect, Newsweek reports.

This decision was made despite an invitation sent in January to Pope Leo XIV, who was born in the United States.

Pope Leo XIV has already criticized some of Trump's policy decisions. For example, after the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the pontiff spoke of concern about the developing events and called on Venezuela to remain an independent country.

Earlier, the US president said that on February 19 he would convene a Peace Council at the Donald Trump Institute of Peace in Washington and announce the allocation of more than $ 5 billion for humanitarian and reconstruction work in Gaza.