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In the 40-minute audience, Beasley voiced specific fears about famine looming in several countries at the same time as COVID-19 is ravaging communities around the globe.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ projects that some 270 million people will face severe hunger this year, fuelled by COVID-19, conflict, climate shocks and other factors.

Beasley also briefed Pope Francis on his appeal to billionaires who have become wealthier during the COVID-19 pandemic to step up and help fund efforts to support the hungry and poor. 

The Pope¡¯s longstanding concern for the hungry prompted a papal visit to Â鶹ÊÓƵ headquarters in 2016, where His Holiness offered his support and encouragement in efforts to achieve a Zero Hunger world.

Pope Francis met David Beasley in November 2017, but today¡¯s meeting is the first since Â鶹ÊÓƵ was named recipient of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its work fighting hunger.

Photo Editors: Click   for photos of this visit.

 

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The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  We are the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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