Pope Francis urged us not to forget the 'family farmers' - FAO chief (2025)

The passing of Pope Francis reminds us of the “rare moral clarity” he brought to discussions on agri-food systems, according to the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

Dr Qu Dongyu said that Pope Francis consistently reminded the world that “food is not simply a commodity — it is a right”.

Pope Francis, who was 88, passed away on Easter Monday (April 21) and will be laid to rest on Saturday in Rome.

Pope Francis

In a statement, the FAO director-general reflected on what the late pontiff taught us in relation to food.

“Food is not merely a matter of logistics or productivity — it is a matter of human dignity. It is not confined to supply chains or economic reports, but touches the sacredness of life itself.

“Food is about people, about the communities we build and the cultures we carry. It is about compassion, and the unbreakable bonds that connect us.

“When we commit to feeding the world, we do not simply fill stomachs — we honour the soul of humanity, especially for the vulnerable and marginalised,” Dr Dongyu said.

The FAO director-general said that he was honoured to meet Pope Francis personally on several occasions.

In 2022, the pope praised FAO’s work to support vulnerable populations during a period marked by conflict, economic instability, and a continuing global pandemic.

“Pope Francis placed great value in the humility of those who toil silently. He called on us not to forget them. Not to forget the family farmers, especially small producers, the rural women, the hungry child.

“He reminded us that each of these stories is the story of the world. We must not leave anyone behind,” Dr Dongyu said.

“In the long sweep of human striving, there are few struggles more noble than the effort to feed another. Pope Francis reminded us that this duty is not performed through charity alone, but through justice and investment.

“He saw in the simple act of eating a profound moral gesture, one that unites the living with those who came before, with the hands that sowed, and the hopes that endured,” he added.

Food

The FAO director-general said that along with sustainability and transformation in food systems, the late pope also placed importance on dignity.

“He taught us that to waste food is to forget the farmer. To turn away from hunger is to betray our common humanity.

“We must turn our collective rhetoric into concrete actions to ensure the ‘Four Betters’ for all: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

“He spoke not as a ruler, but as a witness. And in doing so, he called us all — leaders, farmers, consumers — to do something extremely precious: he called on us to care.

“We must care enough to ensure a better, more foods-secure future for present and future generations,” Dr Dongyu said.