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: https://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses).
Another useful website is http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
Forms of Address
The Pope
Writing to:
His Holiness, Pope Francis
Secretariat of State
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
Letter opening: Your Holiness or
Most Holy Father:
Concluding a letter: Your Holiness’ most humble servant,
Speaking to: Your Holiness or Holy Father
Cardinals
Writing to:
His Eminence,
Luis Cardinal Ladaria Ferrer, S.J.
or
His Eminence,
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Title:
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or
Archbishop of New York
Letter opening: Your Eminence
Concluding a letter: I have the honor to be, Your Eminence,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking to: Your Eminence
Introducing or Referring to: His Eminence or Cardinal DiNardo
Archbishops
Writing to:
His Excellency,
The Most Reverend (full name)
Title: Archbishop of … (or Apostolic Nuncio to …, etc.)
Letter opening:
(formal) Your Excellency:
(less formal) Dear Archbishop (last name),
Concluding a Letter:
(formal) I have the honor to be, Your Excellency,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking to:
(formal) Your Excellency;
(less formal) Archbishop (last name)
Introducing or Referring to: His Excellency or Archbishop (last name)
Bishops
Writing to:
His Excellency,
The Most Reverend (full name)
Title: Bishop of …
Letter opening:
(formal) Your Excellency
(less formal) Dear Bishop (last name)
Concluding a Letter:
(formal) I have the honor to be, Your Excellency,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking to:
(formal) Your Excellency
(less formal) Bishop (last name)
Introducing or Referring to: His Excellency or Bishop (last name)
Abbots
Writing to:
Right Reverend (full name), (add religious order initials)
Letter opening:
(formal): Right Reverend Abbot:
(less formal): Dear Father Abbot,
Concluding a letter:
(formal) I have the honor to be, Right Reverend Abbot,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking to: Abbot (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order)
Introducing or Referring to: The Right Reverend Abbot (full name) or Abbot (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order)
Vicars General, Moderators of the Curia, Episcopal Vicars, Chancellors (if a priest), Judicial Vicars, Vicars Forane, Rectors, if not a monsignor (for monsignors, see below):
(formal) The Very Reverend (full name), (if Vicar General, the postnominals V.G. are added; if Vicar Forane, V.F.)
(less formal) The Reverend (Full Name)
Letter Opening:
(formal) Reverend and Dear Father (last name):
(less formal) Dear Father (last name),
Concluding: (formal) I am, Reverend Father,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Father (last name)
Introducing or Referring to: Father (last name)
Monsignors
Writing to:
The Reverend Monsignor (full name)
(formal) Reverend and Dear Monsignor (last name):
(less formal) Dear Monsignor (last name),
Concluding: (formal) I am, Reverend Monsignor,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Monsignor (last name)
(formal) The Reverend (full name)
Letter Opening:
(formal) Reverend and Dear Father (last name):
(less formal) Dear Father (last name),
Concluding: (formal) I am, Reverend Father,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Father (last name)
Introducing or Referring to: Father (last name)
Priests (Religious)
Writing to:
(formal) The Reverend (full name), (add religious order initials)
Letter Opening:
(formal) Reverend and Dear Father (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order):
(less formal) Dear Father (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order),
Concluding: (formal) I am, Reverend Father,
Respectfully yours in Christ,
(less formal) Respectfully yours in Christ,
Speaking: Father (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order)
Introducing or Referring to: Father (last name or first name, according to the custom of the order)
Deacons – Permanent, married:
Writing to: Deacon (full name)
(jointly) Deacon and Mrs. (full name)
Salutation: Dear Deacon
(jointly) Dear Deacon and Mrs. (last name)
Concluding: Sincerely yours in Christ,
Speaking: Deacon (last name)
Deacons – Permanent, unmarried:
Writing to: Deacon (full name)
Salutation: Dear Deacon (last name),
Concluding: Sincerely yours in Christ,
Speaking: Deacon (last name)
Deacons – Transitional:
Writing to: Rev. Mr. (full name) or
Deacon (full name)
Salutation: Dear Deacon (last name)
Concluding: Sincerely yours in Christ,
Speaking: Deacon (last name)
Heads of Vatican Dicasteries
Partial list. (See Vatican web site – www.vatican.va)
His Eminence
Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretary of State
Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano
00120 Vatican City
His Eminence
Luis Cardinal Ladaria Ferrer, S.J.
Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Piazza del San Uffizio
00120 Vatican City
His Eminence
Robert Cardinal Sarah
Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Vatican City
Addresses of Church Officials – US
His Excellency
The Most Reverend José H. Gomez
President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
or
His Excellency
The Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241
His Excellency
The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W
Washington, DC 20017
Addresses – Liturgy
His Excellency
The Most Reverend Arthur Roche
Secretary, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 Vatican City
The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Chairman, USCCB Committee on Divine Worship
Secretariat of Divine Worship
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
or
His Excellency
The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Archbishop of Hartford
134 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
The Rev. Andrew V. Menke
Executive Director
Secretariat of Divine Worship
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
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