Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV criticized world leaders for prioritizing military spending over food aid.
- He stated that conflicts are 'fed' more readily than people are nourished.
- Funding for food assistance has dropped by approximately 59% since 2022.
- The United States recently pledged $800 million to the World Food Programme.
- The Pope urged governments to cut red tape and remove obstacles to humanitarian aid.
Pope Leo XIV stated on Monday that wars are being sustained more easily than people are fed, urging governments to strengthen resources to combat hunger amid a severe funding shortfall. Addressing the governing body of the U.N. World Food Program in Rome, the pontiff pressed governments to cut red tape and remove obstacles preventing assistance from reaching those in need.
He criticized political and administrative barriers that slow humanitarian aid while military spending continues unhindered, stating, “In effect, conflicts are ‘fed’ more readily than people are nourished.” The appeal comes as funding for food assistance has dropped sharply by about 59% since 2022, according to a recent WFP report, even as needs have surged.
Last week, the United States pledged $800 million to the WFP, a contribution expected to help more than 38 million people in at least 37 countries. The WFP's more than $10 billion appeal for 2026, however, remains severely underfunded. The Pope also noted that the Trump administration had previously abolished the U.S. Agency for International Development, cutting $60 billion in overall assistance, though funding has been restored to the WFP and UNICEF since December.
Pope Leo warned that today’s crises have become “persistent realities” and urged leaders to place human dignity at the center of decision-making, emphasizing that access to food is a fundamental human right.