Pope Leo XIV urged the international community to actively combat hunger and not to allow access to food to depend on political and economic interests. The pontiff made this statement during a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome. This was reported by Vatican News.
Addressing the participants of the annual session of the Executive Council of the organization, the head of the Roman Catholic Church noted that modern crises have ceased to be temporary phenomena and have turned into a permanent reality. According to him, the world is facing protracted conflicts, food shortages, economic instability, and the consequences of climate change.
Pope Leo XIV pointed to the weakening of international cooperation and the growing distrust between states. He noted that despite unprecedented production capabilities, extreme poverty and social vulnerability persist in many regions of the world.
The pontiff paid special attention to the problems of delivering humanitarian aid. According to him, bureaucratic barriers and geopolitical interests increasingly hinder people's access to vital resources. In this regard, he recalled the words of Pope Francis, spoken ten years ago: "Conflicts are nourished more readily than people are fed."
The head of the Catholic Church called for strengthening international cooperation, increasing resources directed at combating hunger, and removing obstacles to delivering aid to those in need. He also emphasized the important role of church structures, which often provide support to the most vulnerable groups in areas inaccessible to international organizations.
According to the pontiff, food, water, and medical assistance should not become subjects of market calculations or geopolitical interests, as access to adequate nutrition is one of the fundamental human rights.
In conclusion of his speech, Pope Leo XIV assured the participants of the meeting at the United Nations World Food Programme of his prayerful support.
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