List of religious leaders in 1986

1985 religious leaders – Events of 1986 – 1987 religious leaders – Religious leaders by year

Catholic Churches

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

Protestant Churches

• Assemblies of God – G. Raymond Carlson, General superintendent of the Assemblies of God (1986-1993)
• Church of England – Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury (1980-1991)
• Lutheran World Federation – Zoltán Kaldy, President of the Lutheran World Federation (1984-1987)
• Seventh-day Adventist Church – Neal C. Wilson, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1979-1990)
• Southern Baptist Convention – President of the Southern Baptist Convention
  1. Charles Stanley (1984-1986)
  2. Adrian Rogers (1986-1988)
• Church of Sweden – Bertil Werkström, Archbishop of Uppsala (1983-1993)
• United Church of Canada – Moderator
  1. Robert F. Smith (1984-1986)
  2. Anne M. Squire (1986-1988)
• Worldwide Church of God – Pastor-General of the Worldwide Church of God
  1. Herbert W. Armstrong (1933-1986)
  2. Joseph W. Tkach (1986-1995)

Other

• Jehovah's Witnesses – Frederick W. Franz, President of the Jehovah's Witnesses (1977-1992)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – LDS Church – Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985-1994)
• Tibetan Buddhism – Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama (1935-present)
• World Council of Churches – Emilio Castro, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (1985-1992)
• New Apostolic Church – Hans Urwyler, Chief apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1978-1988)
• Coptic Orthodox Church – Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971-present)