UNICEF and Pope Leo XIV Unite to Address Global Child Suffering and Inequality

In a powerful meeting at the Vatican, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell met with Pope Leo XIV to draw urgent global attention to the worsening plight of children affected by war, poverty, and climate change — and to confront the devastating impact of global aid cuts and rising debt burdens on the world’s poorest nations.

“Today, children are suffering on an unprecedented scale from conflicts and crises, while access to health, education and protection services is being rolled back by global cuts to foreign aid funding,” Russell said after the meeting. “Pope Leo has a powerful voice in spreading the message of peace and protection of children, and we’re grateful. The world must listen, and do better for children.”

The high-level discussion, held at the Apostolic Palace, comes as UNICEF warns of a global child crisis defined by overlapping emergencies—from escalating armed conflicts to worsening climate disasters and crippling national debts that are hollowing out investments in children’s futures.

A Global Crisis for Children

Millions of children are currently living in or fleeing from active conflict zones, including Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In these regions, children face daily risks of violence, malnutrition, and disease. Many are separated from their families, deprived of schooling, or recruited into armed groups.

Meanwhile, an estimated 1 billion children live in countries at high risk from climate change, where rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and extreme weather are destroying essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and water systems. Hundreds of millions more live in extreme poverty, surviving without reliable access to food, clean water, or healthcare.

“Childhood should be a happy time for children to learn, to feel safe, and to grow,” Russell said. “But far too many children are suffering, living day-by-day to survive war, poverty, and weather-related disasters.”

Debt and Funding Crises Threaten Progress

Russell and Pope Leo also discussed the global foreign aid and debt crises, which are compounding inequalities and pushing millions of families further into hardship. According to UNICEF, many low- and middle-income countries now spend more on debt interest payments than on health, education, or social protection combined, diverting essential funds away from children’s welfare.

“Pope Leo’s leadership in addressing the global debt crisis and advocating for access to education for all children is deeply appreciated,” Russell said. “The debt burden has become a moral issue — when countries must choose between feeding their children and paying creditors, the global system is failing them.”

The UNICEF chief warned that cuts in international aid budgets by several donor countries have weakened humanitarian responses and jeopardized progress made over decades. “If global funding continues to decline, we risk losing an entire generation of children to preventable diseases, hunger, and violence,” she cautioned.

Climate Change Deepens Inequality

UNICEF’s latest data shows that climate change is intensifying existing crises, displacing millions of children each year. Repeated droughts and floods are crippling food production, spreading disease, and creating new conflicts over dwindling natural resources.

“Much like wars, climate catastrophes are increasing in frequency and intensity,” said Russell. “Children are always the most vulnerable — they suffer first and recover last.”

She highlighted that cycles of drought and flooding in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific are leading to widespread displacement, food shortages, and school closures. In many regions, families are forced to migrate in search of water and safety, placing additional strain on already fragile communities.

The Path Forward: Hope, Partnership, and Action

Despite the grim statistics, both UNICEF and Pope Leo expressed optimism that global cooperation can reverse the current trajectory. Russell noted that UNICEF and its partners reach hundreds of millions of children every year with life-saving interventions — including vaccines, nutrition, safe water, education, and protection against violence and exploitation.

“We know how to save and improve the lives of children and mitigate the risks of climate change,” she said. “But we need countries to come together, to prioritize the world’s children, and ensure that their rights are respected. It will make for a healthier, more stable, and peaceful world — for everyone.”

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of all children, urging world leaders to act with compassion and justice. He praised UNICEF’s tireless advocacy and reaffirmed that “every child, regardless of birthplace or circumstance, deserves the chance to grow in peace and hope.”

Building on a Continued Partnership

This marks Catherine Russell’s second visit to the Vatican. Last year, she met with Pope Francis, joining him and tens of thousands of children at the Olympic Stadium for a day celebrating the rights and dignity of children, organised by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.

The continued engagement between UNICEF and the Vatican underscores a shared moral mission: to protect the world’s most vulnerable and to ensure that no child is forgotten in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and sustainability.

As Russell concluded: “The measure of our humanity lies in how we treat the most vulnerable among us. Today, too many children are living without hope. It is our collective duty — governments, faith leaders, and citizens alike — to change that.”