Last Saturday’s meeting between Pope Francis and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Latter Day Saints) president Russell M. Nelson was the the first such meeting between leaders of the two churches.
The historic meeting was held the evening before the Latter Day Saints dedicated a new temple in Rome.
Although the Vatican has declined to comment about the meeting with Nelson and the 14 elders who make up the leadership of the church, the Latter Day Saints leaders have shared their views.
“We had a most cordial, unforgettable experience. His Holiness, he was most gracious and warm and welcoming,” Nelson said.
“What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving and capable leader.
“We talked about our mutual concern for the people who suffer throughout the world and want to relieve human suffering.
“We talked about the importance of religious liberty, the importance of the family, our mutual concern for the youth [and] for the secularisation of the world and the need for people to come to God and worship Him, pray to Him and have the stability that faith in Jesus Christ will bring in their lives.”
Another Latter Day Saints leader present at the 33-minute meeting was President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Ballard said they spoke of the close relations the two faiths have in working together on humanitarian projects.
“We explained to His Holiness that we work side by side, that we have projects with Catholic Relief Services all over the world in over 43 countries. [We’ve] been shoulder to shoulder as partners in trying to relieve suffering. He was very interested in that.”
Since becoming the church’s leader in 2018, Nelson has often engaged with Catholic prelates in the United States.
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