Pope Leo XIV called on the United Nations to prioritize people in the fight against global hunger, saying that feeding those who suffer is essential to building peace. He spoke at the headquarters of the UN World Food Programme in Rome on Monday, June 22, 2026. In his address, the Pope highlighted how hunger is more than a humanitarian issue — it erodes social cohesion, increases the risk of conflict, and drives forced migration.“More than just a humanitarian concern, hunger erodes social cohesion, increases the risk of conflict and fuels forced migration,” Pope Leo said. He added that “conflicts are ‘fueled’ more easily than people are nourished,” and that this reflects not only operational failures but a deeper imbalance in political and moral priorities.
The Holy Father stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation and said every state shares responsibility to recognize “the inherent, God-given dignity of every person.” He encouraged secular governments to work with the Catholic Church to help the most vulnerable, affirming that access to adequate food is a fundamental human right rooted in human dignity.
Pope Leo pointed to the Church’s practical role through parishes, dioceses, Caritas, and other faith-based initiatives, which often reach people in places international agencies cannot access. “Therefore, I encourage the World Food Programme and its partners to continue supporting these efforts,” he said.Praising the FAO, founded in 1945 after World War II to address hunger, the Pope also warned about excessive bureaucracy. He said transparency and accountability must serve people, not become obstacles to aid. “Effectively implementing this appeal [to combat hunger] requires reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, so that transparency and accountability serve people and do not become an obstacle to aid,” Pope Leo concluded.