Russell M. Nelson, LDS Church President, Dies at 90
Russell M. Nelson, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a decade, passed away on September 27, 2025. His tenure was marked by increased interfaith relations, notably with the Catholic Church.
Before his ecclesiastical career, Nelson was a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. As president, he was viewed as a prophet by the 17.5-million-member church. In 2019, he made history by becoming the first head of his church to meet a sitting pope, Pope Francis. This meeting fortified the relationship between the two churches, with a shared commitment to serve the poor and vulnerable.
Under Nelson's leadership, interfaith relations flourished. The USCCB's Committee on Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs, chaired by Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, worked with the Latter-day Saints on shared policy concerns and supported local Catholic initiatives. In 2016, Catholic Community Services of Utah honored Nelson at its annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner. Following Nelson's death, Catholics offered condolences and prayers to the Latter-day Saints community.
However, Nelson's presidency also saw a tragic incident. In 2023, a gunman attacked a Latter-day Saints church in Michigan, resulting in five deaths and eight injuries.
As of now, there is no official information about who will succeed Russell M. Nelson as the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite the challenges faced, Nelson's legacy of fostering interfaith relations, particularly with the Catholic Church, will continue to influence the church's future.
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