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.
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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 (in black unless they are a Queen); 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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