Leo XIV slams the use of hunger as a ‘weapon of war’
In a message to FAO, the pontiff makes a strong appeal against the use of food in today's wars. On the challenge of feeding the planet, he invites the world to “to move from words to deeds,” and put “an end to the era of slogans and misleading promises.” He is revolted by the scandal of resources taken from the fight against poverty to weapons production and trade.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV issued a message to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture 0rganisation (FAO). In it he condemns the use of hunger as a weapon of war – like in Gaza and many regions of Africa or where war has been compounded by natural disasters (earthquake), like Myanmar.
[W]e are currently witnessing with despair the iniquitous use of hunger as a weapon of war,” reads the message. “This leads to huge numbers of people succumbing to the scourge of starvation and perishing, with the aggravating circumstance that, while civilians languish in misery, political leaders grow fat on the profits of the conflict.”
“Starving people to death is a very cheap way of waging war,” writes the pontiff. “That is why today, when most conflicts are not fought by regular armies but by groups of armed civilians with few resources, burning land and stealing livestock, blocking aid are tactics increasingly used by those who seek to control entire unarmed populations. Thus, in this type of conflict, the first military targets become water supply networks and communication routes. Farmers are unable to sell their produce in environments threatened by violence, and inflation soars.”
In the message, the pope notes that, “although some significant steps have been taken, global food security continues to deteriorate, making it increasingly unlikely that the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal of the 2030 Agenda will be achieved.”
Sadly, “although the earth is capable of producing enough food for all human beings, and despite international commitments to food security, it is unfortunate that so many of the world’s poor still lack their daily bread.”
To tackle hunger, Leo XIV calls on the world “to move from words to deeds, putting at the centre effective measures [. . .] putting an end to the era of slogans and misleading promises. In this respect, we must not forget that sooner or later we will have to give an explanation to future generations, who will receive a legacy of injustices and inequalities if we do not act wisely now.”
The pope’s message also underlines the link between food systems and climate change. “Producing food is not enough,” he notes. “[I]t is also important to ensure that food systems are sustainable and provide healthy and affordable diets for all”. This calls for “rethinking and renewing our food systems, from a perspective of solidarity”.
But all this is impossible, he explains, when “Financial resources and innovative technologies are being diverted from the eradication of poverty and hunger in the world to the manufacture and trade of weapons. In this way, questionable ideologies are promoted while human relations cool, debasing communion and stifling fraternity and social friendship.”
For this reason, peace is crucial. “I wish to assure you that the Holy See will always be at the service of concord among peoples and will never tire of cooperating for the common good of the family of nations, with special regard for the most afflicted human beings, who suffer hunger and thirst, and also for those remote regions which cannot rise from their prostration because of the indifference of those for whom the exercise of unfailing solidarity should be an emblem of their lives. With this hope, and as a voice for all those in the world who are stricken by destitution, I pray to Almighty God that your work may bear fruit and be of benefit to the underprivileged and to humanity as a whole.”
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