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- Elder Matthew S. Holland represented the Church of Jesus Christ at Pope Leo XIV's inauguration.
- He presented a congratulatory letter from the church's First Presidency, emphasizing collaboration with Catholics.
- Pope Leo XIV urged unity among religions for peace and disarmament, highlighting shared humanitarian goals.
SALT LAKE CITY — Elder Matthew S. Holland represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Mass of Inauguration for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday at the Vatican.
Elder Holland, of the Seventy, also participated with other religious leaders in a private audience with the new pope on Monday and presented a congratulatory letter from the church's First Presidency.
In the letter, the First Presidency sent its "warmest regards" to the new pope. It says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints looks forward to continuing to work with the Catholic Church to encourage peace and provide humanitarian aid.
It also asks the Lord to "guide and sustain" Pope Leo XIV in his vital and needed ministry.
"This vital responsibility requires great wisdom, humility, strength and compassion. Your lifetime of faith and admirable character leave you well prepared to answer this call to serve God's children," the letter said.
It said the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ shares a commitment with the Catholic Church in following Christ's example of caring for people in need.
"We deeply appreciate our longstanding relationship with the Catholic Church and the many ways we have worked together to relieve suffering around the globe. We look forward to continuing our work toward a world where peace, human life and dignity, and religious freedom are cherished and protected," the First Presidency said.
In a statement on the day Pope Leo XIV was introduced, the First Presidency sent similar sentiments about the two religions working together toward common goals.
In addressing representatives of other churches on Sunday, the pope said:
"To all of you, representatives of other religious traditions, I express my gratitude for your participation in this meeting and for your contribution to peace. In a world wounded by violence and conflict, each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home. I am convinced that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying 'no' to war and 'yes' to peace, 'no' to the arms race and 'yes' to disarmament, 'no' to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and 'yes' to integral development," he said, according to the Vatican website.
"The witness of our fraternity, which I hope we will be able to show with effective gestures, will certainly contribute to building a more peaceful world, something that all men and women of good will desire in their hearts."
