. ▁Catholic ▁leaders ▁and ▁leaders ▁of ▁The ▁Church ▁of ▁Jesus ▁Christ ▁of ▁L atter - day ▁Sain ts ▁re aff ir med ▁their ▁shared ▁belief s ▁in ▁the ▁central ity ▁of ▁marriage ▁and ▁families ▁in ▁society . ▁Pope ▁Francis ▁shook ▁hands ▁with ▁Henry ▁B . ▁E yr ing , ▁who ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 0 ▁speak ers ▁chosen ▁for ▁the ▁event . ▁The ▁interaction ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁a ▁Pope ▁and ▁a ▁leader ▁from ▁The ▁Church ▁of ▁Jesus ▁Christ ▁of ▁L atter - day ▁Sain ts ▁had ▁met ▁face - to - face . ▁ ▁On ▁ 9 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Church ▁President ▁Russell ▁M . ▁Nelson ▁and ▁Act ing ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Qu orum ▁of ▁the ▁Tw elve ▁Apost les ▁M . ▁Russell ▁Ball ard ▁met ▁with ▁Pope ▁Francis ▁in ▁a ▁ 3 3 - min ute ▁interview ▁at ▁the ▁V at ican . ▁The ▁event ▁marked ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁history ▁that ▁a ▁po pe ▁and ▁a ▁president ▁of ▁The ▁Church ▁of ▁Jesus ▁Christ ▁of ▁L atter - day ▁Sain ts ▁met ▁face - to - face . ▁In ▁talking ▁about ▁the ▁meeting , ▁President ▁Nelson ▁said , ▁" We ▁had ▁a ▁most ▁cord ial , ▁un for get table ▁experience . ▁His ▁Hol iness , ▁he ▁was ▁most ▁gra cious ▁and ▁warm ▁and ▁wel coming ." ▁President ▁Nelson ▁also ▁stated , ▁" We ▁talked ▁about ▁our ▁mut ual ▁concern ▁for ▁the ▁people ▁who ▁suffer ▁throughout ▁the ▁world ▁and ▁want ▁to ▁rel ieve ▁human ▁suffering