Addressing Global Hunger: Pope Calls It a ‘Collective Failure’ on World Food Day – Insights from Catholic Review

ROME (CNS) — On World Food Day, Pope Leo XIV made a powerful statement about hunger and its impact on millions. He spoke to leaders and representatives at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to mark the organization’s 80th anniversary.

Despite advances in technology and medicine, a staggering 673 million people still go to bed hungry each night. Additionally, 2.3 billion people can’t afford a healthy diet. “These numbers represent broken lives,” the Pope emphasized.

He criticized the current economic system for its “insensitivity” and called it an “unjust model” that perpetuates hunger. The Pope pointed out that in many conflict zones, food is used as a weapon, a situation he finds alarming. He warned that the idea of starvation as a war crime is fading.

The Pope emphasized that hunger isn’t just a statistic; it’s a crisis that requires collective action. He urged everyone to see those who suffer from hunger as part of our global family. “These are my brothers and sisters,” he said, urging immediate help for those in need.

He posed tough questions about inequality: “How can we justify that a few have everything while many have nothing?” He highlighted regions like Ukraine, Gaza, and South Sudan, where poverty ravages lives daily.

According to recent FAO statistics, nearly 33% of the world’s population experiences some form of food insecurity. This statistic reflects a larger crisis that many fail to acknowledge.

In his closing remarks, Pope Leo called for a change in mindset. “We must not ignore suffering,” he said. “Failure to act makes us complicit in injustice.”

He stressed that hope for a better world depends on our willingness to share and support each other. He concluded with a hopeful yet urgent call: “Only then can we truly say that no one has been left behind.”

For more insights on global hunger and food security, visit FAO’s official website.

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