The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the following statement:
“We join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel. As the world pauses to remember his example of forgiveness and service, we feel deep gratitude for the goodness of a life well lived and rejoice in the hope of a glorious resurrection made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
In 2019, President Russell M. Nelson met with Pope Francis inside the Vatican in what was the first meeting of its kind. Of that meeting, President Nelson said, “We had a most cordial, unforgettable experience with His Holiness. He was most gracious and warm and welcoming. What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving, and capable leader.”
Pope Francis welcomes President Russell M. Nelson to the Vatican Saturday, March 9, 2019.
President Russell M. Nelson greets Pope Francis in the Vatican in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, March 9, 2019.
President Russell M. Nelson presents Pope Francis with a small statue of the Christus and a framed copy of the Church’s proclamation on the family. President Nelson and President M. Russell Ballard visited with the Pope on Saturday, March 9, 2019.
Pope Francis greets President Henry B. Eyring in the Synod Hall at Vatican City as a colloquium on marriage begins. Religious leaders and scholars representing 14 faith traditions from 23 countries assembled at the Vatican November 17-19, 2014, in a historic gathering hosted by the Catholic Church to discuss how men and women complement each other in marriage.