Source: Vatican News Photo Credit: WFP
Pope Leo XIV, on Monday, June 22, 2026, visited the headquarters of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome, where he emphasized the urgent need to address hunger, malnutrition, and the structural causes that continue to sustain global food insecurity.
Addressing the Executive Board of the United Nations World Food Programme, the Holy Father stressed that food, water, and healthcare are essential human needs that must not be compromised by geopolitical interests. “We share the urgent task of confronting hunger and malnutrition, while also tackling the underlying structural causes that sustain them. To meet this task effectively, we must examine the challenges before us, their underlying causes, and the paths towards lasting solutions,” Pope Leo XIV said.
After expressing gratitude to the organization for its commitment to saving lives during humanitarian emergencies, the Pope reflected on the need to address deeper systemic challenges. He noted that the issue now extends beyond responding to crises to understanding “why the system constantly produces the very problems it is then forced to correct.”
The Holy Father called for humanitarian efforts to be free from excessive bureaucratic processes, stressing that more effective responses are needed to reach vulnerable populations.
He concluded his address by praying for God’s blessing upon the work of the organization “so that all may receive their daily bread and live in dignity.”Pope XIV Encourages Children at Vatican Summer Camp to Use Technology Wisely
Photo Credit: Vatican News
Later on June 22, Pope Leo XIV met with children participating in the Vatican’s Estate Ragazzi Summer Camp, where he encouraged them to use technology wisely and ensure that digital devices serve friendship rather than replace genuine human relationships. The programme, inspired by Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, focused on exploration, discovery, and interaction among the children during the year’s activities.
Responding to a question about human relationships and technology, the Pope acknowledged the benefits of modern devices but cautioned against allowing them to interfere with personal connections. “Technology can be very good and very useful for many things; however, when we are together, it is not necessary to have a mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet in our hands at every moment,” he said.
He encouraged the children to spend more time engaging with one another as friends rather than communicating only through digital platforms. The Holy Father also reminded them that even though prayers and the Bible can be accessed through phones, God does not focus on devices but looks at the human heart. Pope Leo XIV said, “God does not want to look at our phones; He looks at our hearts and our lives,” adding that “we are not all plugged into a cable; we are human beings.”
The children prayed together with the Pope and presented him with an explorer’s kit and a commemorative plaque naming him the “Chief Explorer” of the summer camp, marking the conclusion of his visit.
Church Leaders Meet in Rome Ahead of 2027–2028 Synodal Assemblies
Photo credit: Vatican News
Meanwhile, leaders of the Church’s continental bodies have gathered in Rome for a three-day meeting focused on the next phase of the Synod on Synodality.
According to a press release issued by the General Secretariat of the Synod on Monday, June 22, 2026, the meeting, scheduled from June 23–25, brings together representatives from continental ecclesial organizations across Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and North America.
The representatives are accompanied by coordinators of continental synodal teams as the Church continues preparations following the conclusion of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2024.
The gathering takes place ahead of the ecclesial Assemblies of 2027–2028 and follows the publication of Towards the Assemblies 2027–2028: Stages, Criteria and Tools for Preparation, which guides the next stages of the synodal journey.
The General Secretariat explained that the meeting will focus on listening to key developments in implementing the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, while also allowing participants to share experiences from different regions and identify areas requiring further reflection.
Discussions will also examine how communication can support the ongoing synodal process within local Churches and regional ecclesial communities. The final day of deliberations will focus on the continental assemblies as a key stage in the broader ecclesial journey, which will culminate in the Assembly of October 2028.
Participants are expected to discuss issues relating to participation, representation, expected outcomes, and the role of the General Secretariat of the Synod in accompanying the process.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet with the participants at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Synod before the meeting concludes on Thursday evening for a dialogue session.By: Anita Aryeh
DEPSOCOM, Accra
