Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited Bucharest, Romania, on Sunday, where he spoke to more than 600 people gathered for a national conference.
The gathering brought together Church members and guests from across the country, as well as representatives of government, academia, faith, humanitarian and civic organizations, including Ciprian Olinici, Romania’s State Secretary for Religious Affairs.
Other attendees included Dr. Laurențiu Tănase of the University of Bucharest; Mădălin Avramescu of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Ervin Iusein and Mucahit Biner of the Association for Dialogue and Universal Values; Orthodox priest Alin Ardeleanu; Popescu Azota of the NGO Association Catharsis Brașov; and Bartolomeu Constantin Savoiu, Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania.
- Elder Renlund addresses the members and friends at the Romania Bucarest Distrist Conference on Sunday 22 February 2026.
- Over 600 people were in attendance, from members and missionaries, to political officials, academia and representatives of other faiths.
- Elder Renlund speaks to Dr. Laurențiu Tănase, professor of Orthodox Theology and Sociology of Religion at the University of Bucharest.
- Elder Gerard greets Ciprian Olinici, Romania’s State Secretary for Religious Affairs.
- Elder Renlund shakes hands with Alin Ardeleanu, an Orthodox Priest and good friend of the church.
- Elder Renlund speaks with Bartolomeu Constantin Savoiu, the Grand Master, National Grand Lodge of Romania.
- Elder Renlund speaks with Popescu Azota from the NGO Association Catharsis Braşov.
- At the invitation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Elder Renlund received a private tour of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
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Main messages of the conference included an emphasis on Christian discipleship and the importance of personal faith and integrity in daily life.
Participants described the gathering as a constructive forum for reinforcing shared moral values and strengthening interreligious engagement. Avramescu called it “a sign of trust and dialogue,” while Iusein highlighted the importance of sustained conversation between faith communities to address misconceptions and identify areas of cooperation.
Elder Jack N. Gerard, First Counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency of the Church, told civic and religious representatives, “We honor and respect you.”
In the afternoon, Elder Renlund was invited to the Patriarchal Cathedral and Patriarchal Palace by the Romanian Orthodox Church.
“Our visit reflects a sincere desire to listen, learn and build respectful relationships,” Elder Renlund said. “Dialogue and understanding between faiths can help strengthen communities and foster trust.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was first established in Romania in 1899 and received official recognition as a religious denomination in 2011. It maintains congregations in several Romanian cities and participates in humanitarian and interfaith initiatives nationwide.