Pope Condemns Misguided Global Priorities
Pope Leo on Monday accused world leaders of "feeding" wars instead of the hungry, delivering a sharp critique during a visit to the Rome headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP). The pope, who has become increasingly outspoken on political issues, urged governments to boost spending on hunger relief and refrain from imposing geopolitical restrictions on food aid.
"Conflicts are 'fed' more readily than people are nourished," the first US pope declared. "This reality reflects not only operational shortcomings but also a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities."
WFP Funding and US Contributions
The WFP, the world's largest food aid provider, relies heavily on contributions from the United States, its biggest donor. Last week, the US announced a new $800 million contribution, following earlier cuts by President Donald Trump that more than halved planned US funding. Pope Leo did not name specific leaders but lamented that humanitarian crises are relegated to a "secondary place among international priorities."
He noted that countries "have increasingly allocated their resources towards national security, economic growth and domestic stability, disregarding the close link between these issues and multilateral cooperation."
Food as a Fundamental Right
Pope Leo emphasized that access to food is "a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person." He argued that alleviating hunger not only helps those in need but also addresses the underlying causes of geopolitical instability. "Food security is an essential component of global and integral security," the pope said.
Leo was welcomed to the WFP by Cindy McCain, who resigned as director earlier this year for health reasons. The WFP, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, provided 15.6 billion daily rations to 121 million people in 2025, funded by $6.5 billion in private donations, according to the agency.
