In a new appeal to the faithful, Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics around the world to unite in prayer this month for a deeply urgent need: that no one goes without food.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father released his May intention through the “Pray with the Pope” initiative, drawing attention to the ongoing crisis of hunger affecting millions globally. In his message, he expressed sorrow that “millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger,” while at the same time, “so many goods are wasted at our tables.”
The Pope’s prayer goes beyond awareness, urging a transformation of heart and lifestyle. He asked the Lord to “awaken in us a new awareness: that we learn to give thanks for every food, to consume simply, to share with joy, and to care for the fruits of the earth as a gift… destined for all, not just a few,” according to Vatican News.
This call reflects a broader moral challenge. Global hunger remains a growing crisis, with the World Food Programme warning that 318 million people could face acute food insecurity this year. The situation may worsen, as conflicts—particularly in the Middle East—threaten to push millions more into severe hunger.
The Pope also emphasized the need for action rooted in faith. He prayed that Christians might become capable of “transforming the logic of selfish consumption into a culture of solidarity,” encouraging concrete steps such as food banks, awareness efforts, and more responsible lifestyles.
Father Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, underscored the urgency of the message, noting that the intention “comes from the Pope’s heart” and calling on believers “not to remain indifferent but to take decisive action, first with prayer, then with concrete gestures of solidarity,” according to Vatican News.
At its core, the Pope’s message is both spiritual and practical. He reminded the faithful that Christ Himself is “broken bread for the life of the world,” and prayed that humanity might develop “a new heart, hungry for justice and thirsty for fraternity.”
Below is the full text of the Holy Father’s prayer for May:
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.
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