Pope Leo criticized the political priorities of governments around the world, stating that nations are allocating greater resources and budgets to wars and military competition while millions of people continue to suffer from hunger and food insecurity.
Speaking on Monday during a visit to the headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome, Italy, the leader of the Catholic Church warned that the global hunger crisis continues to worsen, yet insufficient attention and resources are being devoted to addressing it.
“In practice, conflicts are being fed more than people,” Pope Leo said. He stressed that this situation is not merely the result of operational challenges but reflects a fundamental imbalance in the political and moral priorities of governments worldwide.
The Pope described access to adequate food as a fundamental human right and urged governments to place the fight against hunger and malnutrition at the top of their agendas. He also called for increased funding for humanitarian assistance and emphasized that food aid should remain free from political and geopolitical considerations.
The head of the Catholic Church stated that ensuring food security is not only a humanitarian issue but also one that is directly linked to global stability and security. According to him, reducing hunger and poverty can help address the underlying causes of instability, forced migration, and protracted conflicts.
These remarks come as international organizations continue to warn about the deteriorating state of food security in many parts of the world. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 266 million people in 47 countries experienced severe food insecurity last year. Armed conflicts, economic crises, climate change, and large-scale population displacement have been identified as the primary drivers of the crisis.
The World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger, provided assistance to more than 120 million people across multiple countries in 2025. However, the agency has repeatedly warned that declining international financial support is limiting its ability to respond effectively to the growing number of humanitarian emergencies.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
