[Holy See] Catholic Forms of Address

[Ender]

ECCLESIASTICAL FORMS OF ADDRESS FOR CATHOLICS

The following are forms of address used by Catholics in letters and in speech. It is perfectly correct for those who are not Catholics to change the conclusion to something such as: "With every good wish to Your Excellency (Eminence, etc.), I am, Sincerely yours, NN.," or even more simply, "With every best wish. Sincerely yours, NN."

THE POPE:
Addressing a letter: His Holiness Pope N___________
Salutation: Most Holy Father; Your Holiness.
Concluding a letter: I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect, your Holiness' most obedient and humble servant.
In personal speech: Your Holiness

PATRIARCHS, EASTERN & REGIONAL:
Addressing a letter: His Beatitude the Patriarch of _______ or, His Beatitude the Lord (Christian name) Patriarch of _______
Salutation: Your Beatitude:
Concluding a letter: Asking Your Beatitude's blessing, I am, Yours respectfully
in Christ, NN.
In personal speech: Your Beatitude

PATRIARCHS, LATIN TITULAR, AND NUNCIOS:
Addressing a letter: His Excellency the Patriarch (Archbishop) of______ or His Excellency Monsignor N, Patriarch (Archbishop) of ______
Salutation: Most Reverend Excellency; Your Excellency:
Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency's blessing, I am, Yours respectfully, NN.
In personal speech: Your Excellency.

CARDINALS:
Addressing a letter: His Eminence (Christian name) Cardinal (Surname) (If an archbishop or bishop give title and see)
Salutation: Your Eminence:
Concluding a letter: Asking the blessing of Your Eminence, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ, N.
In personal speech: Your Eminence

ARCHBISHOPS:
Addressing a letter: Most Reverend N______N _____,Archbishop
of ___________
Salutation: Your Excellency:
Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency's blessing, I am, Yours respectfully in Christ, N.
In personal speech: Your Excellency

BISHOPS:
Addressing a letter: Most Reverend N______ N______
Bishop of ______
Salutation: Your Excellency; Your Excellency:
Concluding a letter: Asking Your Excellency's blessing, I am, Yours respectfully, NN.
In personal speech: Bishop

ABBOTS:
Addressing a letter: Right Reverend N______ N ______(adding letters designating his Order) Abbott of ______
Salutation: Right Reverend Abbot:
Concluding a letter: Yours respectfully in Christ, NN.
In personal speech: Father Abbot

PROTONOTARIES APOSTOLIC, DOMESTIC PRELATES AND VICARS GENERAL (MONSIGNORS):
Addressing a letter: Rt. Rev. Msgr. N______N______
Salutation: Right Reverend Monsignor:
Concluding a letter: Yours respectfully in Christ, NN.
In personal speech: Monsignor

PAPAL CHAMBERLAINS (MONSIGNORS):
Address on envelope: Very. Rev. Msgr. N ______N ______
Salutation: Very Reverend Monsignor:
Concluding a letter: Yours respectfully in Christ, NN.
In personal speech: Monsignor

SECULAR (DIOSCESAN) PRIESTS:
Address on envelope: Rev. N______N______ or
Father N ______
Salutation: Dear Father:
Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ, NN.
In personal speech: Father

(Note: Priests as a group object to being addressed either in a salutation or in personal speech as "Reverend N______."
"Father" is the preferred form.)

RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS:
Address on envelope: Rev. N______ N ______(adding letters designating his Order.)
Salutation: Dear Father:
Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ, NN
In personal speech: Father

BROTHERS:
Address on envelope: Brother N______ (adding initials designating his Order.)
Salutation: Dear Brother N ______
Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ, NN
In personal speech: Brother

SISTERS:
Address on envelope: Sister N______
Salutation: Dear Sister N ______
Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours in Christ, NN
In personal speech: Sister

MOTHER SUPERIOR (or MOTHER GENERAL):
Addressing a letter: The Reverend Mother Superior (General), Convent of______ or, The Reverend Mother N ______(adding initials of her Order.)
Salutation: Dear Reverend Mother:
Concluding a letter: Respectfully yours,
In personal speech: Mother