List of religious leaders in 1981

1980 religious leaders – Events of 1981 – 1982 religious leaders – Religious leaders by year -

See also:

• List of state leaders in 1981
• List of international organization leaders in 1981
• List of colonial governors in 1981

Christianity

Catholic churches

• Roman Catholic Church – Pope John Paul II, Pope (1978–2005)

Eastern Orthodox churches

• Constantinople – Demetrius I, Patriarch of Constantinople (1972–1991)
• Bulgaria – Maxim, Patriarch of All Bulgaria (1971–present)
• Cyprus – Chrysostomos I, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977–2006)
• Georgia – Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1977–present)
• Greece – Seraphim, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1973–1998)
• Jerusalem – Diodorus, Patriarch of Jerusalem (1981–2000)
• Romania – Iustin, Patriarch of All Romania (1977–1986)
• Russia – Pimen I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1971–1990)
• Serbia – German, Patriarch of Serbia (1958–1990)

Oriental Orthodox Churches

• Armenian Apostolic Church – Vazgen I, Catholicos of Armenia (1955–1994)
• Assyrian Church of the East – Mar Dinkha IV (1976–present) Rival Patriarch in Baghdad Mar Addai II (1970–present)
• Coptic Orthodox Church – Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971–present)
• Syriac Orthodox Church – Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (1980–present)

Protestant churches

• Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • President J. A. O. Preus (1969–1981)
  • President Ralph Bohlmann (1981–1992)
• Seventh-day Adventist Church – Neal C. Wilson, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1979–1990)
• The Salvation Army -General Arnold Brown July 5, 1977 to 1981( 2nd Canadian General)

-General Jarl Wahlstrom (1st General from Finland)1981–1986

Other Christian

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) – Spencer W. Kimball, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1973–1985)
• New Apostolic Church – Hans Urwyler, Chief apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1978–1988)

Islam

• Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – Khalifatul Masih III, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (1965–1982)
• Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement – Saeed Ahmad Khan, Amir (1981–1996)
• Dawoodi Bohras – Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (1965–present)
• Nizari – Aga Khan IV (1957–present)

Eastern

• Tibetan Buddhism – Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama (1935–present)
• Thailand's Buddhists – Ariyavangsagatayana, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (1973–1988)