Pope Leo: Leaders Feed Wars More Than Hungry
Pope Leo has criticised world leaders for prioritising wars over efforts to end hunger, saying global political and moral priorities are misplaced. Speaking at the headquarters of the World Food Programme in Rome, he urged governments to increase funding for food aid and avoid letting geopolitical interests limit humanitarian assistance.
He said, “Conflicts are ‘fed’ more readily than people are nourished,” adding that, “This reality reflects not only operational shortcomings but also a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities.”
The Pope lamented that humanitarian crises are being pushed into a “secondary place among international priorities” as countries focus more on security, economic growth and domestic stability. He stressed that access to food is “a fundamental human right grounded in the dignity of every person” and noted that tackling hunger can also reduce geopolitical instability.
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Leo further stated that “Food security is an essential component of global and integral security,” as the WFP seeks increased funding amid warnings that food insecurity could worsen in 13 countries due to conflict, climate shocks and funding shortages.
Reuters
