Pope urges food and water access above geopolitical interests

Pope Leo addressed the UN World Food Programme's Executive Board at its Rome headquarters on Monday, urging governments to ensure that access to food, water and healthcare is not subordinated to geopolitical interests. The pontiff warned that the international order has become increasingly fragmented amid a crisis of multilateralism, with countries prioritizing national security over cooperation.

Systemic failures

The pontiff said the world faces persistent crises marked by conflict, chronic food insecurity, economic instability and climate-related vulnerabilities. The issue is no longer limited to how to intervene, but rather "extends to understanding why the system constantly produces the very problems it is then forced to correct," he said.

Funding imbalances

He also criticized what he described as a growing imbalance in global priorities. "Conflicts are 'fed' more readily than people are nourished," he said, arguing that humanitarian efforts are often hindered by political decisions, bureaucracy and economic considerations. Leo stressed that hunger is not only a humanitarian issue but also a driver of conflict, social instability and forced migration.

Call for action

He called on governments to strengthen international cooperation, increase resources devoted to fighting hunger and remove barriers preventing aid from reaching vulnerable populations. The pope praised the WFP's work in emergency response and long-term food security programs.