Pope Leo XIV complained that “conflicts are fed more easily than people are” during a visit to the Rome headquarters of the UN World Food Programme on Monday.
“This situation is a reflection not only of operational shortcomings, but also of a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities,” the American pontiff added.
“More than a simple humanitarian concern, hunger erodes social cohesion, increases the risk of conflict, and fuels forced migration.
“Furthermore, it undermines the ability of states and societies to build resilient institutions, provide effective education, and promote sustainable economic development”.
The pope made an appeal to the world’s governments to “increase the resources dedicated to the fight against hunger and its root causes and remove the obstacles that prevent aid from reaching those in need”.
