At the farewell reception for former Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on March 18, 2026, representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other faith traditions praised the president for his interfaith and community efforts, according to a Church Newsroom release from Lisbon.
It was held at the Belém Palace, the presidential palace in Lisbon, Portugal, and representatives from the church joined leaders from 29 other faiths.
Church leaders included Paulo Adriano, director of national communications, and Joaquín Moreira, Portugal’s church-government relations and interfaith expert.
As a gift for the President’s efforts, Mr. Moreira presented Mr. Rebelo de Sousa with a rare copy of the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, expressing the Church’s gratitude and presence in this country.
Efforts to establish and strengthen the right to religious freedom have allowed the Church to grow in this country, but such rights are a very recent development.
Religious freedom was established in Portugal in 1974.
By 2000, the concentration of membership in the Church of Jesus Christ in Portugal was higher than in any other European country, with five stakes and more than 35,000 members.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Portuguese Church, which now has over 50,000 members.
Adriano said Portugal has long been a “model of sincere friendship and cooperation between faith communities.”
“We are deeply grateful for President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s service and the respect he has consistently shown for the Church. The strong interfaith relationships forged during his presidency will continue,” he added.
Rebelo de Sousa’s term ended on March 9, and he was succeeded by President Antonio José Seguro.
“I look forward to continuing this spirit of cooperation with the new president in the coming years,” Adriano said.
Rebelo de Sousa recognized the role of faith leaders in promoting ethical values, social responsibility and cohesion in Portuguese society.
Other religious leaders expressed optimism about interreligious cooperation in Portugal, saying it would in turn contribute to the country’s unity, stability and well-being.
The event was part of the Church’s global efforts to strengthen relationships with local communities and faith leaders.
