On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Elder Dale G. Renlund from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with Monsignor Javier Del Río Alba, the archbishop of Arequipa. During their meeting, Elder Renlund reminisced about a previous visit to Arequipa and a past encounter with Monsignor Del Río, highlighting their friendship and his admiration for the archbishop’s humanitarian efforts in the city.
“He is a great friend to me and to the Church, helping us in many ways, and he is a great example of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a joy for me that he has taken time to visit me today,” Elder Renlund stated.
Also accompanying were Elder Renlund’s wife, Ruth, and Elder Sandino Román of the South America Northwest Area Presidency along with his wife, Lupita.
The Church of Jesus Christ has partnered with Caritas on various humanitarian aid initiatives in Arequipa, benefiting numerous low-income families by creating schools and programs that encourage self-reliance and skill development.
Monsignor Del Río expressed about the gathering, “It has been a great joy to be here with him and his wife and to share such a pleasant moment of fraternity. We are brothers, and for me, being with them is truly to feel that love of God that is manifested among brothers.”
“We have worked together and cooperated for several years now between the Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ, and these meetings strengthen our mutual efforts on behalf of those most in need,” he continued.
At the start of the meeting, Elder Renlund gifted Monsignor Del Río with a framed copy of “The Living Christ.”
In 2019, the Interreligious Council of Peru – Religions for Peace, which includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, awarded Del Río the 2019 Family Values Award for his dedication to family values advocacy.
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