WFP official: Food assistance is often a matter of life or death

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“It’s really important to be able to draw attention not only to our work, but also to the families that we serve in remote areas of the world that are affected by conflict and climate shocks.”

In an interview with Vatican News on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the World Food Programme headquarters in Rome on Monday, Gemma Snowdon reflected on the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the United Nations agency.

At the invitation of WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, the Pope met participants in the annual session of the Executive Board, as well as staff members and their families.

In his remarks, he called for renewed multilateralism and warned that, especially at a time when conflicts are often “fed” more readily than people are nourished, basic needs such as food, water and healthcare must never be subordinated to geopolitical interests.

The Pope also thanked staff for their vital service around the world and expressed his desire to continue working together.

According to the World Food Programme’s 2026 Global Outlook, 318 million people are expected to face food crises or worse this year. The agency also warns that conflict in the Middle East could push an additional 45 million people into severe hunger in the near term.

Last month, Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for May was “so that everyone might have food,” inviting Catholics worldwide to pray and act in response to global hunger, while highlighting the scale of food waste alongside persistent deprivation.

The Pope had also visited the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on October 16, 2025, marking World Food Day and the 80th anniversary of the institution.

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Q: How would you describe the importance of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the World Food Programme this morning?

Pope Leo’s visit to the World Food Programme is incredibly important for the staff here. It is a recognition of their work around the world to end hunger.

And it’s also an opportunity to draw attention not only to that work, but to the families we serve in remote areas affected by conflict and climate shocks.

Gemma Snowdon attends the Pope’s visit to WFP headquarters in Rome

Q: What encouragement do you believe the Pope’s address has given the community here?

For many of our staff around the world, it has been a huge encouragement to hear him recognize their work, and to feel that support for our shared goal of ending world hunger. It really means a great deal.

I know many staff, including those working in the field, joined remotely. Some organized gatherings to watch the visit livestreamed, and some were even able to speak with him directly. So it is a significant moment for WFP, one that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Q: The Pope spoke about the vicious cycle between conflict and hunger. How can this be addressed concretely?

At WFP, we know very well that conflict and hunger are inextricably linked. Conflict leads to hunger, and hunger can in turn fuel conflict. We will not achieve a world without hunger unless we also move toward a world with less conflict.

It is encouraging to hear that message reflected at this level, and to know there are others who share that same goal.

Q: It was mentioned that in places like Yemen, aid workers are risking their lives. How do staff remain sustained in such conditions, and why is this work more important than ever?

Prior to working at headquarters, I was based in South Sudan for three years—one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers, with more deaths than anywhere else in the sector.

It may seem counterintuitive that people continue to go out in those conditions, but once you are in the communities and see the difference that assistance makes, you understand it is often a matter of life or death.

Yes, staff are willing to take on that risk. It is a difficult reality, and one I hope will change in the future. But at the end of the day, people depend on this support, and that is what keeps me and many of my colleagues going.

Q: The Pope said that conflict is more easily “fed” than people, and called for renewed multilateralism. What impact could that message have?

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We hope very much that this message is heard by those with the power to act. We are already seeing humanitarian funding struggle to keep pace with rising needs, and in many cases, a decrease in support.

So, we hope this will also help reinforce the urgency of the situation and lead to increased funding to meet humanitarian needs.

Q: Do you see cooperation with the Catholic Church as helpful in this work?

Absolutely. In my experience in the field with WFP, we have worked closely with the Catholic Church on many operations.