World Food Day was celebrated on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Rome at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the theme “Hand in hand for better food and a better future.” This year’s edition also marked the 80th anniversary of the FAO.
The event was attended by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; FAO Director-General QU Dongyu; His Holiness Pope Leo XIV; King Letsie III of Lesotho, FAO Special Ambassador for Nutrition; Queen Letizia of Spain, FAO Special Ambassador for Nutrition; Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa; the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi Martínez; the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario; the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy Hensley McCain; and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.
Director-General QU Dongyu opened the conference with a keynote address, concluding with the words: “All rise for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.” The Pope then took the stage in the grand Blue Hall, beneath a 500-square-metre ceramic bas-relief by artist Mirko Basaldella, depicting oceans, seas, and lands in allegorical form.
In a powerful speech delivered [half in Spanish and half in English], before an audience of global political, social, and cultural leaders, the Pontiff drew attention to the millions who lack access to clean water, food, essential healthcare, adequate housing, basic education, and decent work. He called on the world to “share in the pain of those who feed only on despair, tears, and misery,” and urged that the suffering of those “condemned to death and hardship in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and South Sudan” not be forgotten.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani delivered Italy’s national statement during the plenary session and inaugurated the FAO Museum and Network on Food and Agriculture (FAO MuNe), funded by Italian Cooperation.
Echoing the Pontiff’s words, Minister Tajani reminded the audience that “Hundreds of thousands of women and children are suffering from hunger,” and stressed the urgent need for action. He renewed Italy’s call to the international community for an Olympic truce during the upcoming Winter Games in Cortina, noting: “Not only in Gaza but also in Ukraine there are people suffering from hunger. It would be very important for us to have the support of your countries”
Italy has accordingly prepared a draft resolution for the United Nations General Assembly. In closing, the Minister highlighted the link between food security and water security, expressing Italy’s pride in hosting, next March, the Ministerial Conference on Water of the 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean, for the signing of the new Union Declaration on Water. He also reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, to be held in Rome in September 2026, organized by the Italian Committee One Water, which was represented at the conference by its own delegation.
