Pope Francis expresses his support for FAO in meeting with the Director-General
12 November 2019, Rome – Pope Francis today received FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu for a meeting at the Vatican during which the pontiff expressed his strong support to FAO’s mandate of eradicating hunger and to the Organization’s initiatives, activities and events.
The Director-General described the talks as “extremely cordial” and noted that he and the Pope “see eye-to-eye” on many issues, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In a special message, read out on his behalf at World Food Day celebrations at FAO last month, the pontiff urged for the cultivation of lifestyles inspired by gratitude, moderation and solidarity; for the need to halt wasteful practices and to promote economic institutions and social initiatives that support the poor.
The Director-General, who yesterday delivered a keynote address at a special conference on the reduction of food loss and waste at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of the Vatican, invited Pope Francis to attend the 75th Anniversary celebrations of FAO at World Food Day next year.
On 21 November, FAO, ILO and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development will co-organize a World Fisheries Day event, which focuses on social responsibility in the fisheries value chain, including decent working conditions.