Addressing Clergy
Note that priests and their superiors and religious should be
treated with the utmost respect. The rules of etiquette that apply when
dealing with people of different social standing apply here as well,
for example: during introductions, laymen are introduced to
priests or their superiors and religious (e.g., "Father, I present Mrs.
Doe. Mrs. Doe, this is Father Smith."); clergy and religious should be
seated at the right hand of a host (or hostess, as the case may be); at
social gatherings, they should be seated in the place of honor, etc.
A note on kneeling:
- Kneel on the
left knee for persons (Kings, Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs,
Cardinals, Popes, etc.);
- Kneel on the
right knee for Christ in the tabernacle;
- Kneel on both
knees when the Eucharist is exposed.
|
Latin
Catholic
|
Pope
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Holy Father
Your Holiness
Most Holy Father |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Holiness, Pope John Paul II (abbreviated: H.H. John Paul
II) |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Holiness
Most Holy Father |
|
Formal Closing
|
Kissing the Sacred Foot |
|
Abbreviations
|
His Holiness: H.H. |
|
Other
|
Kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for
his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, bow at the
waist and proceed. Stand when he enters the room and remain standing
until he invites you to sit. Women should have their heads covered with
a black mantilla or scarf, and should
be dressed modestly in black (only certain Queens and princesses wear
white in an audience with the Pope);
men must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat reverential gestures
when leaving his presence.
Note: If you'd like a very nice papal souvenir, bring a brand new white
zucchetto with you when
meeting the Pope. His Holiness will trade his
for yours. |
|
Cardinal
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Eminence
Your Grace (British) |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Eminence, John Cardinal Doe, Archbishop of Erewhon
("Cardinal" goes between first and last names) |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Most Revererend Eminence
Most Eminent Cardinal |
|
Formal Closing
|
Kissing the Sacred Purple |
|
Abbreviations
|
His Eminence: H.E.;
Eminence: Emus. (Eminentissimus) |
|
Other
|
Kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of respect for
his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, bow at the
waist and proceed (do not do either if the Pope is present). Stand when
he enters the room and remain standing until he invites you to sit. Men
must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat reverential gestures
when leaving his presence. |
|
Patriarch
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Beatitude |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Beatitude |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Beatitude |
|
Other
|
Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he
invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. When it
is your own Patriarch, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of
respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, or
if he is not your own Patriarch, bow at the waist and kiss his ring (do
not do either if the Pope is present). Repeat reverential gestures when
leaving his presence. |
|
Archbishop/Primate
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Excellency
Your Grace (British) |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Most Reverend John Doe, Archbishop of Erewhon |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Excellency |
|
Formal Closing
|
Kissing the Sacred Ring |
|
Abbreviations
|
Archieps. (Archiepiscopus), or Arch. |
|
Other
|
Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he
invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. When it
is your own Archbishop, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign
of respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible,
or if he is not your own Archbishop, bow at the waist and kiss his ring
(do not do either if the Pope is present). Repeat reverential gestures
when leaving his presence. Note that when signing his name, or when you
refer to an Archbishop, placing a cross (a plus sign: "+") in front of
an Archbishop's name is common, with no space after the cross. Example:
+John M. Doe |
|
Bishop
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Excellency
My Lord Bishop (British)
Your Lordship (British) |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Most Reverend John Doe, Bishop of Erewhon
The Right Reverend John Doe, Bishop of Erewhon (British) |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Excellency
Your Lordship |
|
Formal Closing
|
Kissing the Sacred Ring |
|
Abbreviations
|
Ep., Epus. (Episcopus) |
|
Other
|
Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he
invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. When it
is your own Bishop, kneel on your left knee and kiss ring as sign of
respect for his office. If kneeling would be awkward or impossible, or
if he is not your own Bishop, bow at the waist and kiss his ring (do
not do either if the Pope is present). Repeat reverential gestures when
leaving his presence. Note that when signing his name, or when you
refer to a Bishop, placing a cross (a plus sign: "+") in front of a
Bishop's name is common, with no space after the cross. Example: +John
M. Doe |
|
Monsignor
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Monsignor |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Very Right Reverend Monsignor Doe
The Reverend Monsignor John Doe |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Monsignor |
|
Abbreviations
|
Right Reverend Father: RR. (for Reverendissimus) |
|
Other
|
Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he
invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. Repeat
reverential gestures when leaving his presence. |
|
Priest
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
"Father,"
"Reverend Father," or "Your Reverence." Though it is common, it's not
proper to address a priest using his first name, as in "Hi, Father
John!" |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Reverend Father John Doe |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Father
Reverend and Dear Father Doe |
|
Abbreviations
|
Father: F. or Fr.
Fathers, Plural: FF.
Reverend Father: Rev. Fr. (or "R.P." for Reverendus Pater) |
|
Other
|
Stand when he enters the room and remain standing until he
invites you to sit. Men must remove their hats in his presence. If a
priest visits your home, it is customary to ask for his blessing; the
simple words, "Father, bless" are fine. When blessed by a priest, kneel
on both knees until he is finished. It is also customary for many
people, especially those in Latin cultures, to kiss the priest's hand
to honor the Eucharist, as they alone are able to consecrate (unless
the Pope is present).
In Italy, religious priests are referred to as "Padre" (as in "Padre
Pio") and secular priests (priests not belonging to a religious order,
like most parish priests) are referred to as "Don" (as in "Don Bosco").
|
|
Deacon
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Deacon |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Reverend Mr Deacon |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Mr. Deacon |
|
Abbot
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Father Abbot |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Right Reverend John Doe, (Initials of Order)
Ex. Right Reverend Doe, O.S.D. |
|
Abbreviations
|
Abbot: Ab. |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Right Reverend Father
Dear Abbot |
|
Brother
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Brother |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Brother John Doe, (Initials of Order)
Ex. Brother Doe, O.S.D. |
|
Abbreviations
|
Br. or Bro. |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Brother |
|
Mother
Superior
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Reverend Mother |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Reverend Mother Jane Doe, (Initials of Order)
Ex. The Reverend Mother Jane Doe, O.S.D. |
|
Abbreviations
|
Rev. Mother |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Reverend Mother |
|
Sister
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Sister |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Sister Jane Doe, (Initials of Order)
Ex. Sister Jane Doe, O.S.D. |
|
Abbreviations
|
Sr. (for Soror) |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Sister
Dear Sister Jane Doe |
Eastern
Catholic
|
Patriarch
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Beatitude |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Beatitude |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Beatitude |
|
Metropolitan
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Beatitude |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Beatitude the Most Blessed John, Archbishop of Erewhon
and Metropolitan X Church in ErewhonII |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Metropolitan Doe |
|
Archbishop
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Eminence |
|
Envelope
Address
|
His Eminence the Most Reverend John, Archbishop of Erewhon |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Archbishop John
(it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations
with "Bless, Your Eminence". It is customary to end letters with
"Kissing your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Bless,
Your Eminence.") |
|
Bishop
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Your Grace |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Right Reverend Bishop John |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Your Grace
(it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations
with "Bless, Your Grace". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing
your right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Bless, Your
Grace.") |
|
Other
|
When greeting a Bishop, make a bow by reaching down and
touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over
your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say “Bless, Your Grace.”
The Bishop will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands.
Kiss his hand. |
|
Archpriest
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Father |
|
Envelope
Address
|
The Very Reverend John Doe |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Father
(it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations with "Bless,
Father". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your right hand"
and to end phone conversations with "Father, bless.") |
|
Other
|
When greeting an archpriest, make a bow by reaching down and
touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over
your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say “Bless, Father.” The
Priest will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands. Kiss
his hand. |
|
Priest
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Father (First Name)
Ex. Father John |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Married Priests: The Reverend Father John
Monk Priests: The Reverend Hieromonk |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Father John
(it is customary to begin letters and phone conversations
with "Bless, Father". It is customary to end letters with "Kissing your
right hand" and to end phone conversations with "Father, bless.") |
|
Priests'
wives
|
Greek: Presbytera Jane
Russian: Matushka Jane
Serbian: Papadiya Jane
Ukrainian: Panimatushka Jane |
|
Other
|
When greeting a priest, make a bow by reaching down and
touching the floor with your right hand, place your right hand over
your left hand, with palms facing upward, and say “Bless, Father.” The
Priest will bless you and and place his right hand in your hands. Kiss
his hand. |
|
Deacon
|
|
Face-to-face
Greeting
|
Father
Father Deacon |
|
Envelope
Address
|
Married Deacons: The Reverend Deacon
Monk Deacons: The Reverend Hierodeacon |
|
Letter
Salutation
|
Dear Father Deacon |
|
Deacons'
Wives
|
Greek: Diakonissa Jane
Russian: Matushka Jane
Serbian: Papadiya Jane
Ukrainian: Panimatushka Jane |
|
Monastics
|
|
Female
|
Sister Jane
Formally: Nun Jane
Abbess: The Very Reverend Abbess |
|
Male
|
Father John
Formally: Monk John
Abbot: The Very Reverend Abbot
(Do not refer to them as "Brother" per the Latin tradition unless you
are also a Monastic. Do not use family names when addressing monastics) |
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