Pope Leo XIV Calls for Global Solidarity in May Prayer Intention: “That Everyone Might Have Food”

Pope Leo XIV urges prayer and action against global hunger, highlighting food waste and calling for solidarity, justice, and shared responsibility.

Newsroom (01/05/2026 Gaudium Press) Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark appeal to Catholics worldwide, urging them to unite in prayer and action so that “everyone might have food,” as millions continue to face hunger amid widespread food waste.

The Pope’s message, released through the “Pray with the Pope” video prepared by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, sets the tone for May with a focus on one of the most pressing global challenges: access to food. Speaking with visible concern, he acknowledged the painful reality that “millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger,” even as abundance is squandered elsewhere.

Lamenting the contradiction between scarcity and excess, Pope Leo XIV called for a transformation in mindset. He prayed for a renewed awareness that encourages gratitude for food, simplicity in consumption, and a spirit of joyful sharing. He emphasized that the fruits of the earth are “a gift… destined for all, not just a few,” underscoring a moral responsibility that extends beyond individual habits to global systems.

The Pope’s appeal is grounded in both spiritual reflection and practical action. He urged communities to move beyond indifference by promoting concrete initiatives such as awareness campaigns, food banks, and adopting “a sober and responsible lifestyle.” At the heart of his message is a call to replace what he described as the “logic of selfish consumption” with a “culture of solidarity.”

This concern reflects an escalating global crisis. According to the World Food Programme’s 2026 Global Outlook, 318 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity this year. The situation could worsen further, with ongoing conflict in the Middle East potentially pushing an additional 45 million people into severe hunger before mid-year.

Fr. Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, emphasized the urgency behind the Pope’s intention. He noted that the issue “comes from the Pope’s heart,” highlighting the deep pain caused by the reality that access to food—“something as essential and human”—remains out of reach for so many. He stressed that the Pope’s call is not only for prayer but also for decisive, tangible acts of solidarity.

In the prayer itself, Pope Leo XIV invokes God as the “Lord of creation,” acknowledging the earth’s abundance as a sign of divine providence. He contrasts this gift with the suffering caused by hunger and waste, asking for a transformation of hearts and communities. The prayer calls for justice, fraternity, and inclusion, expressing the hope that “no one be excluded from the common table.”

Central to the Pope’s message is a reimagining of how humanity relates to food—not merely as an object of consumption, but as “a sign of communion and care.” This vision frames food as both a basic human right and a symbol of shared responsibility, linking spiritual reflection with urgent global action.

As the world confronts rising food insecurity, Pope Leo XIV’s May intention serves as both a moral appeal and a call to collective conscience—inviting individuals and communities alike to rethink consumption, embrace solidarity, and ensure that no one goes hungry.

Pray with the Pope

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amén.

Lord of creation,
You gave us the fertile earth and, with it, our daily bread,
as a sign of Your love and providence.

Today we recognize with sorrow
that millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger,
while so many goods are wasted at our tables.

Awaken in us a new awareness:
that we learn to thank for every food,
to consume simply,
to share with joy,
and to care for the fruits of the earth as a gift from You,
destined for all, not just a few.

Good Father,
make us capable of transforming the logic of selfish consumption
into a culture of solidarity.
May our communities promote concrete gestures:
awareness campaigns, food banks,
and a sober and responsible lifestyle.

You who sent us Your beloved Son Jesus,
broken bread for the life of the world,
give us a new heart, hungry for justice and thirsty for fraternity.
May no one be excluded from the common table,
and may Your Spirit teach us to see bread
not as an object of consumption,
but as a sign of communion and care.

Amen.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News

Related Images: