Post by World Food Programme

Today, WFP was honored to welcome His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to our headquarters in Rome in a powerful moment of solidarity with people facing hunger around the world. During the visit, Pope Leo XIV addressed WFP’s global teams and Executive Board, paid tribute to frontline colleagues who risk their lives to serve people in need, and laid a wreath at WFP’s memorial wall honoring the 171 WFP staff who have lost their lives in service to others. His visit comes at a time of acute strain on the humanitarian system: in 2025, an estimated 266 million people across 47 countries were acutely food insecure, while funding for food assistance has dropped sharply. Today’s visit was a reminder that ending hunger is a responsibility the world shares.