Karol Darmoros
WFP Mission
Leon XIV thanked the World Food Programme for saving lives in emergency situations and providing food aid during conflicts and natural disasters. He emphasized that this mission is close to the task of the Church, which defends human dignity and promotes fraternity – reports Vatican News.
The Pope noted that contemporary crises are no longer isolated events but a permanent reality. They are marked by conflicts, hunger, economic instability, and the effects of climate change. Therefore, as he pointed out, it is necessary to ask not only how to help, but also why the current system continues to generate problems that it later tries to solve.
Weakening cooperation
Leon XIV drew attention to the weakening of international cooperation and institutions that are meant to serve common responsibility for the world. Recalling his encyclical “Magnifica humanitas,” he stated that “institutions called to safeguard the idea of the common destiny of nations and the global common good seem weakened.” As he noted, the lack of a common ethical horizon leads to “a disordered and conflict-ridden multipolarity, in which distrust of others prevails.”
The Pope noted that in such a situation, states increasingly allocate resources to national security, economic growth, and internal stability, losing sight of the connection between these goals and international cooperation. He also warned against a situation where humanitarian aid gets bogged down in procedures, and access to basic goods, including food, depends on economic or strategic calculations.
Obstacles to aid
Leon XIV emphasized that the human person must be at the center of international actions. In this context, he recalled the words of Francis, who criticized the blocking of aid efforts and development projects by “complex and incomprehensible political decisions, distorted ideological visions, and impenetrable customs barriers,” while similar barriers do not apply to armaments.
Leon XIV also added that access to food is not merely a matter of humanitarian aid. “Food security is an essential element of global and integral security,” he noted.
Where aid does not reach
Leon XIV appealed for renewed international cooperation, dialogue, and investment in global public goods. He also recalled his words from last year’s visit to the FAO headquarters in Rome: “The call to journey together in fraternal harmony must become the guiding principle.”
The Pope called on governments and nations of the world to increase resources dedicated to fighting hunger and its causes, and to remove obstacles that prevent aid from reaching those in need. He stressed the need to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy so that transparency and accountability serve people, rather than delaying aid.
The Holy Father emphasized that where authorities do not exercise effective control over a territory or humanitarian access is limited, trusted local partners are essential. He pointed out that the Church – through parishes, dioceses, Caritas, and other faith-based initiatives – often reaches people whom international institutions cannot.
Right to food
Leon XIV recalled that basic human needs cannot be treated as a tool for economic or political interests. “Food, water, and healthcare cannot be subordinated to market considerations or geopolitical interests,” he emphasized. He added that “access to adequate food is a fundamental human right rooted in the dignity of every person.”
The Pope appreciated the World Food Programme’s actions beyond immediate aid, especially school meal programs for children. As he noted, these support education, human development, and social resilience. “At stake is not only the effectiveness of one agency, but also the credibility of international cooperation itself,” Leon XIV indicated.
