The President of the World Farmers’ Organisation honours Pope Francis, recognising his legacy of solidarity, sustainability, and support for family farmers. 

On behalf of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) and the farmers we represent globally, we express our heartfelt condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. 

Pope Francis was a powerful moral voice for social justice, sustainable agriculture, and the dignity of rural communities. Throughout his papacy, he consistently advocated for the rights of farmers, the importance of family farming, and the urgent need to protect our environment. 

Farmers across the world recognised in Pope Francis a true ally — someone who understood and valued their role in building resilient food systems and caring for our planet. He reminded us that “family farmers are the cornerstone of food security and the very fabric of society.” 

His closeness to the farming community was also reflected in his direct engagement with the World Farmers’ Organisation. During the 2015 General Assembly of the WFO, Pope Francis shared a message of support, expressing his appreciation for a gathering dedicated to “important topics related to agricultural development as well as the associative engagement in many social contexts.” His words served as a powerful encouragement to continue strengthening cooperation among farmers and building bridges across sectors and societies. 

In his message for World Food Day 2024, Pope Francis called on governments and international institutions to focus on the needs of those “at the end of the food chain”, including farmers, and to ensure their voices are included in decision-making. 

His moral leadership extended far beyond food and farming. In his encyclicals Laudato Si’ (2015) and Laudate Deum (2023), Pope Francis championed the fight against climate change, the protection of biodiversity, and the pursuit of peace as interconnected pillars of a more just and sustainable world. 

In a message to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Pope Francis underlined that addressing hunger and poverty requires more than abstract strategies or unattainable commitments; it necessitates “cultivating the hope that is born of collective action.” 

His legacy is a profound inspiration to our community. The World Farmers’ Organisation will continue to honour his commitment to solidarity, inclusive development, and climate resilience by advancing the rights and contributions of farmers worldwide. 

Rome, 22 April 2025 

Arnold Puech d’Alissac
President, World Farmers’ Organisation