Pope Leo XIV has raised concerns over growing bureaucracy and political barriers that are slowing the delivery of humanitarian assistance around the world.

Speaking at the headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome on Monday, the pontiff said millions of people facing hunger and hardship are being deprived of timely support because of administrative delays and misplaced global priorities.

Pope Leo XIV argued that the world is placing greater emphasis on conflict than on addressing basic human needs.

“Conflicts are fed more readily than people are nourished. This reflects a troubling imbalance in our political and moral priorities,” he said.

The Pope noted that humanitarian operations are increasingly hindered by bureaucratic procedures that delay the delivery of critical assistance to vulnerable populations.

He also warned that access to essential goods, including food, is often influenced by economic and strategic interests rather than humanitarian need.

“On the other hand, access to essential goods, including food, is too often influenced by economic or strategic considerations,” he said.

According to the pontiff, such practices risk marginalising those who are unable to generate measurable economic value.

“As a result, those who do not generate quantifiable value risk becoming invisible,” he added.

Pope Leo XIV called on governments and international organisations to remove obstacles to aid delivery and strengthen cooperation in addressing hunger, poverty, and humanitarian crises worldwide.