Pope meets FAO chief on world food security

(June 14, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday received the head of the United Nations agency in charge of combating hunger and poverty in the world and reviewed the global food security of the world, particularly that of Africa. The director general of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization, José Graziano da Silva of Brazil, held talks with the Pope and later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican statement said that during the cordial talks both sides greatly appreciated the commitment of the Holy See and the Catholic Church in combating hunger and poverty, especially in the African continent, and improving the worrying situation of world food security. They noted that despite sufficient resources to satisfy the food needs of the entire world, economic, social and political obstacles persist, that prevent the satisfaction of those needs. Finally, the two sides wished that the rural sector assume a primary role in development strategies, that sustainable models of agricultural production and food consumption be promoted, and that there be greater equality and efficiency in managing the food system.