ROME, Italy – Pope Leo XIV visited the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome today, lending his voice to the unprecedented global hunger crisis. Speaking to WFP’s global teams and Executive Board, he paid tribute to the organization’s dedicated staff, many of whom serve on the frontlines of conflict, risking their lives daily to serve those in need.
Former WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, Acting Executive Director, Carl Skau, and WFP Executive Board President, Carla Barroso Carneiro, presided over the event, which was livestreamed to WFP’s more than 20,000 employees worldwide.
Pope Leo laid a wreath at WFP’s memorial wall, which honors the 171 WFP staff who sacrificed their lives in service to others.
His visit comes at a time of acute strain on the humanitarian system. Global hunger has climbed to record levels with an estimated 266 million people across 47 countries acutely food insecure in 2025. Yet funding to support food assistance has dropped precipitously.
“Consequences extend well beyond those immediately affected,” warned Pope Leo. “More than merely a humanitarian concern, hunger erodes social cohesion, heightens the risk of conflict and fuels forced migration. Moreover, it undermines the capacity of States and societies to build resilient institutions, provide effective education and foster sustainable economic development. In doing so, it perpetuates cycles of fragility that ultimately affect the broader international community.”
“Behind every number is a human being — a mother, a child, a family — facing the unbearable reality of not knowing where their next meal will come from,” said Cindy McCain, former Executive Director, World Food Programme. “Pope Leo XIV has given those people a voice, reminding the world that hunger is not inevitable, it is a choice — and that peace is the most powerful tool we have to end it. Because where conflict rages, hunger follows. His presence here today is a profound act of solidarity with the most vulnerable people on earth, and a call to all of us to do more, give more, and refuse to look away.”
“It was an honor to host His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at WFP today,” said Carl Skau, WFP’s Acting Executive Director. “We are grateful for his solidarity with our teams on the frontlines, who deliver food for people in crisis today and rebuild livelihoods for tomorrow. His presence today was a reminder that ending hunger is an obligation the world shares, and we hope it inspires the international community to join us in that commitment.”
During his visit, Pope Leo also viewed WFP’s Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 2020 for its global efforts to end hunger. In a small, intimate, virtual gathering, he thanked a group of frontline workers representing WFP’s regional operations. He then addressed staff on the grounds of WFP’s Rome headquarters and he viewed an installation of traditional bowls and plates from across more than 40 countries – a visual depiction of the scale of global hunger today.
Thanking the pontiff for his visit and continued advocacy for the hungry, Acting Executive Director Carl Skau presented Pope Leo with a framed gift of handwoven bowls and plates from Bolivia crafted by an indigenous Guaraní women’s group.
This is the second papal visit to WFP. His Holiness Pope Francis visited the organization ten years ago on 13 June 2016, where he spoke about the importance of poverty and hunger not being relegated to statistics, but having a human face.
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Note to editors:
Video and photos of the visit are available here
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
