Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV will visit the headquarters of the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome on June 22, underscoring his growing focus on the global fight against hunger and food insecurity.
The Vatican announced that Pope accepted an invitation from the Executive Director of the World Food Programme and will meet participants attending the agency's annual Executive Board session. He is also expected to meet staff members and their families during the visit.
The visit comes at a time when food insecurity continues to affect millions of people around the world. According to the World Food Programme's 2026 Global Outlook, about 318 million people are expected to face food crises or even worse conditions this year. The agency has also warned that ongoing conflict in the Middle East could push an additional 45 million people into severe hunger before the middle of the year.
Combating hunger has become one of the key themes of Pope Leo's papacy. Last month, he urged Catholics around the world to pray and work so that everyone might have food, while drawing attention to the reality that millions continue to go hungry even as large amounts of food are wasted.
The upcoming visit is expected to highlight the Pope's concern for vulnerable communities and his support for international efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. Observers say his address to the World Food Programme could focus on food security, humanitarian crises, conflict related hunger, and the responsibility of governments and global institutions to protect those most at risk.
The visit also follows Pope Leo's appearance at the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in October 2025, during World Food Day celebrations and the organisation's 80th anniversary. During that visit, he reaffirmed the Holy See's support for global efforts to eliminate hunger and called for stronger international cooperation to ensure that food is accessible to all.
As conflicts, climate challenges, and economic pressures continue to threaten food supplies in many parts of the world, Pope Leo's visit to the World Food Programme is expected to reinforce his message that access to food is not only a humanitarian issue but also a matter of human dignity and global responsibility.