Pope Leo XIV urges governments to protect refugees and fund hunger relief

During the Angelus on 21 June, Pope Leo XIV addressed the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and World Refugee Day. He called on governments and the international community to “never turn away from those seeking protection and security,” urging nations to welcome persecuted peoples so they can live in peace, dignity and hope. The pontiff also warned that “conflicts are fed more readily than people are nourished,” criticizing the global imbalance that prioritises military spending over humanitarian aid. He urged a boost in resources for hunger relief, an end to bureaucratic obstacles that delay assistance, and stronger multilateral cooperation. Leo noted the United States’ recent $800 million contribution to the WFP and highlighted that hunger erodes social cohesion, fuels conflict and drives forced migration. The speech linked the protection of refugees with the fight against hunger as essential to global security.