Addressing Clergy

Apologia: The Fullness of Christian Truth

``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be;
even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D

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.

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.

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).

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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