Bread Statement on Election of Pope Leo XIV

Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025 – Bread for the World issued the following statement on the election of the new pope. The statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.

“Bread for the World celebrates with the Roman Catholic Church the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope. We are grateful to see the choice of his name, showing his affinity with Pope Leo XIII, who made Catholic Social Teaching a central issue during his pontificate and which is deeply aligned with our mission to end hunger. We look forward to learning more about Pope Leo XIV’s plans for the Church and will be praying for him as he takes on this new mission.”

Pope Leo XIV was born on the south side of Chicago, IL and is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union. He spent much of his adult life in Peru, where his mother is from and in which he holds dual citizenship, first as a missionary and in later years as a bishop. Pope Leo XIV was said to be close with Pope Francis, who brought him to Rome and named him a cardinal-bishop in February of this year.

“As Pope Leo XIV begins his leadership of the global Catholic Church, we prayerfully urge him to prioritize people suffering from hunger and poverty around the world. Bread for the World believes that ending hunger is possible in our lifetime, and we advocate for policies that reduce global malnutrition, increase support for mothers and children, promote climate resilience for farmers, and strengthen equitable access to economic opportunity. We hope the new Pope will lend his voice to these vital issues and encourage world leaders to act with moral urgency.

“We also invite Pope Leo XIV to continue Pope Francis’s powerful witness in calling for just food systems, compassionate immigration policies, and debt relief for countries burdened by poverty. As a faith-based organization working across denominations, Bread for the World stands ready to support and partner with the Catholic Church in advancing a shared commitment to justice, dignity, and the flourishing of all people.”