The Most Rev. Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, President of the CBCK Committee for Justice and Peace, issued a message for the 16th Farmers' Sunday to be celebrated on July 17, 2011. In his message entitled, "We live together with the earth in God", Bishop Ri said, “We as human beings are by nature to live together with others, cultivating the earth and taking care of all living creatures. …… God blessed us and gave us a mission to share all products from the earth with one another and fulfill our life, however, the reality of the world is quite far from God’s will.”

He stressed the role of the Church to help troubled farmers, in conformity with the will of God “the vine grower” (Jn 15,1). Then he also reiterated the importance of the “campaign for the revival of rural areas” to overcome the food crisis as well as the difficulties of farmers. In this regard, he concluded his message asserting that “Our agriculture and rural areas will see their revival with the increased mutual sharing and service of both urban and rural areas, and eventually, we can all together enjoy the life and blessing of divine creation.”