Rome | Pope Leo XIV called on international leaders on Thursday to take urgent action against global poverty and hunger, stressing the moral responsibility of the world’s decision-makers to address human suffering.
Speaking at the World Food Day event in Rome, which also marked the 80th anniversary of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Pope Leo highlighted crises in Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, Central African Republic, Yemen, South Sudan, as well as conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
Citing UN data, the Pope noted that approximately 673 million people worldwide do not get enough to eat daily. “We can no longer fool ourselves into believing that those out of sight are the only ones affected by our mistakes,” he said. “We are challenged to reevaluate our priorities, lifestyles, and approach to living in today’s world by the hungry faces of so many who still suffer.”
Pope Leo denounced the use of starvation as a weapon of war, calling it “a collective failure, an ethical derailment, and a historic offense.” He urged leaders to make the suffering of millions “our own,” emphasizing global accountability and immediate action.
His warning comes amid severe funding cuts to the World Food Program, which could push 13.7 million people into emergency famine levels. Countries including Afghanistan, Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan are facing major disruptions in food aid due to these reductions.
