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UN PhotoFAO / WORLD FOOD DAY CEREMONY
STORY: FAO / WORLD FOOD DAY HIGHLIGHTS
TRT: 05: 08
SOURCE: FAO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT FAO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / CHINESE / ITALIAN / NATS
DATELINE: 16 OCTOBER 2025, ROME, ITALY
1. Pan left, FAO headquarters
2. Med shot, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon arriving
3. Zoom in, FAO Director-General welcoming Queen Letizia of Spain
4. Pan left, FAO 80th anniversary sign
5. Wide shot, FAO Director-General welcoming Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
6. Med shot, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu welcoming Pope Leo XIV at FAO headquarters
7. Med shot, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Pope Leo XIV entering the building
8. Wide shot, Pope Leo XIV greeting Queen Letizia of Spain
9. Wide shot, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu getting on stage of the World Food Day opening ceremony
10. Wide shot, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Pope Leo XIV on stage
11. SOUNDBITE (English) QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General:
“Your presence here today is a true reflection that hunger knows no borders, and that the challenge of food security demands unity among nations. The world’s leaders and people everywhere must come together united by our collective belief that the right to food is a basic human right, and that peace is a prerequisite for food security.”
12. Wide shot, Pope Leo XIV speaking
13. Med shot, Pope Leo XIV speaking
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Pope Leo XIV:
“I want to bring to the attention of this international forum the multitudes who lack access to drinking water, food, essential medical care, decent housing, basic education, or dignified work, so that we can share in the pain of those who are nourished by despair, tears, and misery alone. How can we fail to remember all of those who are condemned to death and hardship in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and South Sudan, to name just a few places on the planet where poverty has become the daily bread of so many of our brothers and sisters? The international community cannot look the other way. We must make their suffering our own.”
15. Med shot, audience listening including Uruguay President Yamandú Orsi Martínez, Queen Letizia of Spain, Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon (from left to right).
16. Wide shot, screen showing UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres
17. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
“Global progress is far too slow and, in some regions, reversing. New challenges have emerged over the decades – from soaring obesity, to climate shocks threatening food security. Shamefully, hunger is being weaponized – we face the appalling reality of people in conflict situations being starved with famine taking hold. This year’s World Food Day theme – “Hand-in-hand for Better Foods and a Better Future” – is a call for solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.”
18. Wide shot, Han Jun, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China speaking
19. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, read out by Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China:
“China will continue to support Food and Agriculture Organization's works and to play an important role in the field of international food and agriculture. China is willing to work together with the international community to implement global development initiative and to promote United Nation's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda.”
20. Wide shot, Antonio Tajani, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs speaking
21. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Antonio Tajani, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Collaboration:
“In this moment of wars we need to do our best to alleviate the pain of the people of Gaza. There are hundreds of thousands of women and children that are suffering hunger. If we don’t intervene immediately, there have been and there will be deaths due to hunger. This is why it is right that the Rafah gate is opened so that hundreds of trucks can enter. Italy is ready to do its part.”
22. Wide shot, King Letsie III of Lesotho speaking
23. Med shot, Queen Letizia of Spain, Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon (from left to right).
24. Med shot, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Uruguay President Yamandú Orsi Martínez listening (from left to right).
25. Top shot, FAO plenary hall
26. Wide shot, Pope Leo XIV signing FAO guestbook
27. Close up, Pope Leo XIV signing FAO guestbook
28. Wide shot, Pope Leo XIV giving a gift to FAO Director-General
29. Close up, Pope Leo XIV giving a gift to FAO Director-General
30. Med shot, FAO flag
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) commemorated on Thursday (16 Oct) World Food Day and its 80th anniversary with a landmark event in Rome, reaffirming its enduring mission to end hunger and build resilient agrifood systems across the globe.
Hosted by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the celebration brought together prominent global figures, including His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, alongside other international leaders and dignitaries.
This year’s World Food Day also marks 80 years since FAO’s founding in 1945. Under the theme Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future, leaders from politics, culture and civil society were invited to reflect on the urgent need to sustain the spirit of collaboration that has defined FAO’s work for eight decades. Looking ahead, FAO remains committed to building efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that are more equitable, protect the land and feed future generations.
SOUNDBITE (English) QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General:
“Your presence here today is a true reflection that hunger knows no borders, and that the challenge of food security demands unity among nations. The world’s leaders and people everywhere must come together united by our collective belief that the right to food is a basic human right, and that peace is a prerequisite for food security.”
In his keynote address Pope Leo XIV underscored his deep commitment to peace and global food security.
SOUNDBITE (English) Pope Leo XIV:
“I want to bring to the attention of this international forum the multitudes who lack access to drinking water, food, essential medical care, decent housing, basic education, or dignified work, so that we can share in the pain of those who are nourished by despair, tears, and misery alone. How can we fail to remember all of those who are condemned to death and hardship in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and South Sudan, to name just a few places on the planet where poverty has become the daily bread of so many of our brothers and sisters? The international community cannot look the other way. We must make their suffering our own.”
In his video message, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said that global progress against hunger is far too slow and called for global solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.
SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations:
“Global progress is far too slow and, in some regions, reversing. New challenges have emerged over the decades – from soaring obesity, to climate shocks threatening food security. Shamefully, hunger is being weaponized – we face the appalling reality of people in conflict situations being starved with famine taking hold. This year’s World Food Day theme – “Hand-in-hand for Better Foods and a Better Future” – is a call for solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.”
President Xi Jinping of China sent a congratulatory message delivered by Han Jun, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China.
SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, read out by Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China:
“China will continue to support Food and Agriculture Organization's works and to play an important role in the field of international food and agriculture. China is willing to work together with the international community to implement global development initiative and to promote United Nation's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda.”
Representing FAO’s host country alongside Prime Minister Meloni, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Collaboration Antonio Tajani highlighted the importance of quick intervention to alleviate hunger in Gaza.
SOUNDBITE (Italian) Antonio Tajani, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Collaboration:
“In this moment of wars we need to do our best to alleviate the pain of the people of Gaza. There are hundreds of thousands of women and children that are suffering hunger. If we don’t intervene immediately, there have been and there will be deaths due to hunger. This is why it is right that the Rafah gate is opened so that hundreds of trucks can enter. Italy is ready to do its part.”
Other speakers included King Letsie III of Lesotho, Queen Letizia of Spain, Uruguay President Yamandú Orsi Martínez, and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a video message in which he lamented the weaponization of hunger.
Observed annually on 16 October, World Food Day provides an opportunity to reflect on our common duty - to care for the land and water, support those who cultivate it, and strengthen the systems that bring food to every table. Established by a United Nations resolution in 1979 and first observed in 1981, World Food Day is now one of the most widely celebrated UN observances, with events held in over 150 countries.
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