In a powerful address marking World Food Day at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Pope Leo XIV issued a scathing rebuke of the global economic system, calling it a “soulless economy” that perpetuates hunger and inequality across the world.
The pontiff’s remarks came during the FAO’s 80th anniversary celebration, where he described the persistence of hunger as “a collective failure, an ethical aberration, a historical sin.” He urged world leaders, institutions, and individuals to reexamine their lifestyles and priorities, emphasizing that “defeating hunger is the path to peace.”
The Pope’s message resonated deeply as the United Nations recently warned that global hunger is at record levels, affecting over 735 million people worldwide. His speech served as both a moral compass and a rallying cry for urgent reform in how the world produces, distributes, and values food.