FAO Director-General’s Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

07 August 2025, Vatican City: The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, had a Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican City today, which was their first official meeting following the inauguration Mass of the Holy Father’s Pontificate on 18 May 2025.

The Director-General conveyed his deep appreciation to His Holiness for the opportunity to meet, as well as for the many years of close cooperation between FAO and the Holy See. The Director-General also recalled the excellent relations with the previous Holy Father, Pope Francis, and looked forward to further strengthening support and collaboration, noting the important role that the Holy See played in addressing global challenges, including food security.

The Director-General proceeded to provide a brief overview of the many changes he had implemented since taking office in 2019, including the establishment of the World Food Forum and the change in business model (such as for example how to celebrate World Food Day differently) to ensure FAO was fit-for-purpose to support Members with the transformation of global agrifood systems.

The Director-General also provided an historic overview of the establishment of FAO through the initiative of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had convened a conference in 1943 to address global food and agricultural challenges during World War II.

The Director-General informed His Holiness that 2025 was a special year for FAO as it marked the Organization’s 80th Anniversary on 16 October – World Food Day – and extended an invitation to His Holiness to participate in the celebrations, stating it would be a great honour and a privilege for FAO and its Members if he would address the World Food Day ceremony on 16 October.

The Director-General further reiterated his appreciation for the message conveyed by His Holiness to the 44th FAO Ministerial Conference on 28 June 2025 sharing his vision of the inextricable link between peace and food security, as well as the importance of safeguarding the environment, and the key role of innovation in finding lasting and sustainable solutions. The Director-General informed that the message had been highly appreciated by FAO and its Members as it reflected their shared aspirations and collective will.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV welcomed the Director-General and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet, recognizing the important role that FAO played in addressing global food security, and affirmed his blessing and support for FAO’s mandate. In particular, the Holy Father referred to the work of FAO, together with other UN agencies, in Gaza, and emphasized the need for collective action to address the urgent humanitarian crisis.

On a personal note, His Holiness recalled his visit to the Director-General’s hometown in the Hunan Province in China in 2010, noting its historic humanitarian contribution during World War II. The Director-General further informed that there was an historic link between the Hunan Province and the Missionaries that dated back to the early 1900s, and which had led to the establishment of a Missionary medical school and hospital.  

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appreciated the invitation to address the World Food Day ceremony and confirmed his participation. The Holy Father also commended the Director-General for the establishment of the World Food Forum and in particular FAO’s focus on women and youth, rural development, and vulnerable populations.

The Director-General reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to continue working with all partners, including the Government of Italy – which played a special role as FAO’s host country – the Government of Egypt, His Majesty the King of Jordan, and all FAO Members, as well as with the other UN agencies, and all partners, in ensuring the right to food for all based on the premise that the right to food is a basic human right and that peace is a prerequisite for food security.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and the Director-General agreed on the need to do more and better, together, to address global development and humanitarian challenges, especially to address hunger and ensure food security for all – working together for peace.

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