Pope Leo XIV visits UN World Food Programme to address global hunger

Pope Leo XIV visited the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) headquarters in Rome on June 22, meeting staff and participants of the agency’s Executive Board session. He highlighted that 318 million people are projected to face food crises this year and warned that the conflict in the Middle East could push an additional 45 million into severe hunger. The Pope recalled his October 2025 visit to the Food and Agriculture Organization, urging a shared global commitment to end hunger and malnutrition.

In a separate address to the National Transplant Network, Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 70th anniversary of Italy’s first organ donation. He cited the Catholic Church’s long‑standing support for transplantation, referencing teachings of Pope Pius XII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis that frame organ donation as a noble act of solidarity and universal fraternity. The speech emphasized ethical safeguards, the need to avoid commodification of the human body, and the importance of voluntary, gratuitous donation to save lives.