MP 'honoured' to meet Pope to discuss food poverty

An MP has met with the Pope to talk about his Right to Food campaign.

Ian Byrne, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, visited the Vatican in Rome to speak with Pope Leo XIV as part of a Parliamentary delegation.

During his visit he explained the work he does in the UK to reduce hunger and food poverty, and gave the Pontiff a Right to Food badge.

Byrne said: "It was an honour beyond words to present a Right to Food badge to Pope Leo in the Vatican this week and to speak about the work of the #RightToFoodCommission.

The fight to end hunger was about justice and rights and "is also about political will to make genuine, systemic change," he added.

Byrne said the Pope "listened and he was interested in issues around hunger, so it was brilliant".

Byrne is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Holy See, which is the governing body of the Catholic church and the Vatican.

The politician previously met Pope Francis in the same capacity in October 2022, describing this as "one of the proudest moments in my life".

Byrne is also co-founder of the Fans Supporting Foodbanks initiative, which sees football fans donating food for those in need in Liverpool.

It was set up in 2015 by the Liverpool FC-supporting politician, together with Everton FC fans Dave Kelly and Robbie Daniels.

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