Pope condemns using food as a weapon on World Food Day

Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful condemnation of the practice of using food as a tool of war, labeling it a "cruel strategy" that strips people of their basic right to life. The pontiff made these remarks during an address at the Rome headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to mark World Food Day.

A Fading Global Consensus

The Pope expressed deep concern that the international consensus, which once led the UN Security Council to classify starvation as a war crime, has significantly weakened. He stated that the deliberate creation of food crises in conflict zones represents a profound moral failure, emphasizing that "Food must never be a weapon."

The Moral Cry of Humanity

Highlighting the severity of the global food crisis, Pope Leo described hunger not as an inevitable destiny but as a preventable downfall for humanity. "The silence of those dying of hunger cries out in the conscience of humanity," he said, framing the issue as a moral imperative that demands immediate and decisive action from governments and international bodies to protect civilians and prioritize human dignity over profit.

A Call for Ethical Leadership

His address served as a broader call for renewed ethical leadership and global cooperation. The Pope's urgent appeal comes as millions in regions including Gaza, Ukraine, and the Sahel face severe, and often intentionally created, food shortages, underscoring the critical need for policies that place human welfare above all else.