ECCLESIASTICAL FORMS OF ADDRESS FOR CATHOLICS
RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES
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
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
PATRIARCHS, EASTERN:
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.
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:
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:
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 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