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 and be dressed in black (only Queens wear white in the Pope's presence); 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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