1987 religious leaders - Events of 1988 - 1989 religious leaders - Religious leaders by year

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, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977-present)
• 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 - Teoctist I, Patriarch of All Romania (1986-2007)
• 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 Ralph Bohlmann (1981 - 1992)
• Seventh-day Adventist Church - Neal C. Wilson, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1979-1990)

Other Christian

• 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)
• New Apostolic Church
  1. Hans Urwyler, Chief apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1978-1988)
  2. Richard Fehr, Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1988-2005)

Islam: Ismaili and Ahmadiyya

• Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement - Saeed Ahmad Khan, Amir (1981-1996)
• Dawoodi Bohras - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (1965-present)
• Nizari - Aga Khan IV (1957-present)

Other

• Tibetan Buddhism - Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama (1935-present)

• New Apostolic Church - Richard Fehr, Chief apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1988-present)

• Coptic Orthodox Church - Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971-present)

• Universal Pentecostal Church Inc.-Philippines - Bishop Romeo D. Corpuz Sr., Founder and International President(1976-present)

• Jesus Is Lord Church - Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Founder and International President (1978-present)

• Scientology - David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center[1],highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion [2] (1987-present)