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Online Edition:
August 2009
Vol. XV, No. 5
How to Address Church Officials, Bishops, Priests
How to Address Church Officials, Bishops, Priests
We have received repeated inquiries about the proper form of address for bishops and clergy. The proper ecclesiastical forms of address for both writing and speaking vary among countries. The forms of address used in the United States for correspondence and for speaking are given below, along with some mailing addresses of Church officials. (Note: Mailing addresses of US bishops are on the USCCB web site: www.usccb.org/bishops.shtml).
Another useful website is http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
Forms of Address
The Pope
Heading for letters:
His Holiness,
Pope Benedict XVI
Salutation: Your Holiness
Concluding a letter:
I am, Your Holiness, most respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Your Holiness
Cardinals
Heading for letters (examples):
His Eminence,
William Cardinal Levada
or
His Eminence,
Francis Cardinal George
Title:
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or
Archbishop of Chicago
Salutation: Your Eminence
Concluding: Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Your Eminence
Archbishops
Heading for letters:
His Excellency,
The Most Reverend (first name; last name)
Title: Archbishop of ... (or Apostolic nuncio to ... , etc.)
Salutation:
(formal) Your Excellency
(less formal) Dear Archbishop (last name)
Concluding: Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: (formal) Your Excellency;
(less formal) Archbishop (last name)
Bishops
Heading for letters:
The Most Reverend (first name; last name)
Title: Bishop of ...
Salutation:
(formal) Your Excellency
(less formal) Dear Bishop (last name)
Concluding: Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking:
(formal) Your Excellency;
(less formal) Bishop (last name)
Monsignor
Heading for letters:
The Reverend Monsignor (first name; last name)
Salutation:
(formal) Your Reverence
(less formal) Dear Monsignor
Concluding: Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Monsignor (last name)
Priest
Heading for letters:
The Reverend (first name; last name)
Salutation: Dear Father (name)
Concluding: Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Father (last name)
Deacon
Heading for letters: The Rev. Mr. (first name; last name)
Salutation: Dear Deacon (last name)
or Dear Mr. (last name)
Concluding: Sincerely yours in Christ,
Speaking: Deacon or Mr. (last name)
Heads of Vatican Dicasteries
Partial list. (See Vatican web site - www.vatican.va)
His Eminence,
Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
Secretary of State
Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano
00120 Vatican City
His Eminence,
William Cardinal Levada
Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Piazza del San Uffizio
00120 Vatican City
His Eminence,
Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera
Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Vatican City
Addresses of Church Officials - US
His Eminence,
Francis Cardinal George
President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
or
Archbishop of Chicago
835 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611-2030
His Excellency,
The Most Rev. Pietro Sambi
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W
Washington, DC 20017
Addresses - Liturgy
His Excellency,
The Most Rev. Augustine Di Noia
Secretary, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Vatican City
His Eminence
George Cardinal Pell, President
Vox Clara, Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Vatican City
The Most Rev. Arthur Serratelli
Chairman, USCCB Committee on Divine Worship
Secretariat of Divine Worship
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
The Rev. Msgr. Anthony F. Sherman
Executive Director
Secretariat of Divine Worship
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194