Pope Leo XIV Condemns Use of Hunger as a Weapon of War in Message to FAO

Vatican city--Pope Leo XIV has issued a sharp condemnation of the use of hunger as a weapon of war, calling it a “cruel and unjust” practice that reflects a deep moral failure by the international community. In a message to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Pope warned that unless urgent action is taken to address the roots of global poverty and conflict, future generations will inherit “a legacy of injustice and inequality.”
“We are witnessing, with growing dismay, the inhumane use of hunger as a means of warfare,” he said. “Starving a population is a disturbingly inexpensive way to conduct war.”
While he did not refer to any specific country, the message comes amid growing concern over the situation in Gaza, where civilians have been killed while waiting for food aid, prompting some UN officials to accuse Israel of using famine as a war tactic. The Pope also alluded to other conflict zones such as Ukraine, where the destruction of vital infrastructure and blockades has had similar effects.
He criticised the redirection of technology and funding from humanitarian needs toward the arms industry, calling it a “misuse of innovation and capital.” The Pope urged governments to establish clear limits to prevent and punish the use of starvation and deprivation in war, saying that attacks on water systems, supply routes, and food networks must no longer be tolerated.
Pope Leo warned that failure to act now would have consequences far beyond today’s crises. “Sooner or later, we will have to answer to future generations. If we do not act with common sense and compassion now, they will inherit a world shaped by inequality and environmental collapse.”
He also connected the hunger crisis to climate change and economic instability, arguing that they cannot be solved in isolation. “Political conflict, economic disorder, and environmental degradation are feeding a cycle of food insecurity,” he said. “They block aid, disrupt agriculture, and deny people not just food, but dignity and opportunity.”
The Pope called for a “just ecological transition” that puts the environment and the vulnerable at the centre of policy. He urged cooperation between governments, civil society, and local communities to protect ecosystems, support indigenous groups, and ensure access to healthy, affordable diets.
“Producing food is not enough,” he concluded. “We must ensure our food systems are sustainable and inclusive—leaving behind the exploitative logic that has brought us to this point.”
Pope Leo XIV’s statement reinforces the Vatican’s increasingly vocal stance on global justice, urging world leaders to shift priorities from conflict and profit to peace and human dignity.

PS