Pope Leo Criticizes War-Pushing Leaders as Millions Face Hunger

Pope Leo Criticizes War-Pushing Leaders as Millions Face Hunger
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Pope Leo XIV has criticized governments for spending vast resources on wars and military competition while millions of people around the world continue to face hunger and severe food insecurity.

Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the World Food Programme in Rome on Monday, the Pope warned that the global hunger crisis is worsening despite the world’s capacity to produce enough food. He argued that political priorities remain focused on conflict and strategic rivalry rather than addressing urgent humanitarian needs.

He stressed that access to adequate food is a fundamental human right and called on governments to place the fight against hunger and malnutrition at the center of their policies.

The Pope urged countries to increase funding for humanitarian assistance and ensure that food aid is not influenced by political calculations or geopolitical disputes. He said food security is directly linked to global stability and argued that reducing hunger and poverty could help address some of the root causes of forced migration, instability and prolonged conflicts.

multilateral cooperation, Trump has often advocated stronger border controls, increased defense spending and a more nationalist foreign policy. Differences between Vatican leaders and Trump on migration and international aid have been evident since his first presidency, although both sides have occasionally expressed support for peace efforts in conflict zones.

According to recent UN estimates, hundreds of millions of people worldwide continue to face acute food insecurity. Humanitarian agencies warn that funding shortfalls are limiting their ability to respond to growing needs, even as conflicts in several regions continue to drive displacement and deepen hunger.