Home · Faith · Sep 20 archive
Pope Leo XIV Prays for Somalia Amid Crisis
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV called for international solidarity with Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening a humanitarian crisis.
Pope Leo XIV prayed for Somalia on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in the Vatican, calling for international solidarity amid the country's ongoing violence and extreme weather conditions.
Somalia is grappling with severe humanitarian challenges, including internal conflicts and the risk of starvation, exacerbated by the El Niño weather system expected to cause dramatic effects this year.
The United States, once a primary supporter of assistance to Somalia, has altered its policy, though it recently agreed to extend the United Nations' support for African peacekeepers in Somalia for another year.
According to the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP), 6 million people in Somalia are currently facing acute food insecurity.
WFP acting executive director Carl Skau told the Associated Press that the agency has only a tenth of the resources it had available in 2022, when it played a crucial role in averting famine in Somalia.
The WFP's reduced capacity highlights the severity of the current crisis and the urgent need for international support to address the growing humanitarian needs in Somalia.
What this adds
The Pope's call for solidarity underscores the international community's responsibility to respond to Somalia's escalating humanitarian crisis.
What's confirmed
- Pope Leo XIV prayed for Somalia on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in the Vatican, calling for international solidarity amid the country's ongoing violence and extreme weather conditions.
- Somalia is grappling with severe humanitarian challenges, including internal conflicts and the risk of starvation, exacerbated by the El Niño weather system expected to cause dramatic effects this year.
- The United States, once a primary supporter of assistance to Somalia, has altered its policy, though it recently agreed to extend the United Nations' support for African peacekeepers in Somalia for another year.
- According to the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP), 6 million people in Somalia are currently facing acute food insecurity.
- WFP acting executive director Carl Skau told the Associated Press that the agency has only a tenth of the resources it had available in 2022, when it played a crucial role in averting famine in Somalia.
- The WFP's reduced capacity highlights the severity of the current crisis and the urgent need for international support to address the growing humanitarian needs in Somalia.
What's still developing
- At the same time, in addition to its internal violence and conflict, Somalia is suffering the effects of the wars in the Middle East.