How do you, like, say,  ‘Hi’ to a bishop?

Hey Mason & Teo,
We saw the bishop at a recent event up-close and personal. How are we suppose to address the bishop when see him? (Stunned Silence)

Dear Stunned,
Thank you for asking. We, too, were not aware of the proper form of addressing the “higher-ups” of the Catholic Church. Our society is becoming ever more informal. However, proper etiquette and good manners should be applied when dealing with people of different social standing. It is courteous to give respectful treatment to a superior. Equally, those in higher positions have a duty to treat those below them with dignity and consideration. All Catholics should be familiar with the proper form for addressing clergy. Here’s what we learned from a number of Internet websites.

Pope

Direct address (face-to-face greeting): “Holy Father,” “Your Holiness” or “Most Holy Father”

Envelope address: “His Holiness, Pope (his name)”

Letter greeting: “Your Holiness” or “Most Holy Father”

Etiquette: When meeting the pope, you should kneel on your left knee and kiss his ring as a 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.

Cardinal

Direct address: “Your Eminence” or “Your Grace”

Envelope address: “His Eminence (first name) Cardinal (last name), Archbishop of (Archdiocese)” or his title.

Separating the first and last name with the title “Cardinal” (William Cardinal Levada) has long been the formal way to write a cardinal’s name. However, placing the title first (Cardinal William Levada) is being used more and more.

Letter greeting: “Your Eminence Cardinal (name)”

An archbishop or bishop who has been named a cardinal is still an archbishop or bishop and has both titles and roles.

Archbishop

Direct address: “Your Excellency” or “Your Grace” or, less formally, “Archbishop (last name)”

Envelope Address: “The Most Reverend (first name, last name)”

Letter greeting: “Your Excellency” or for a less formal letter greeting use “Dear Archbishop (last name)”

Bishop

Direct address: “Your Excellency” or, less formally, “Bishop (last name)”

Envelope Address: “Most Reverend (first name, last name)”

Letter greeting: “Your Excellency” or, less formally, “Dear Bishop (last name)”

Etiquette: Stand when a bishop enters the room and remain standing when speaking to him if it is a brief contact. If it is a longer visit, after a cordial greeting all present can be seated. Kissing your bishop’s ring (or a cardinal’s or an archbishop’s) as a sign of respect for his office is more prevalent in some cultures than in others. In the United States, it was practiced more in the past than it is today, but it is still acceptable.

Monsignor

Direct address: “Monsignor (last name)”

Envelope Address: “Reverend Monsignor (first name, last name)”

Letter greeting: “Dear Monsignor (last name)”

Priest

Direct address: “Father (first name or last name)” or just “Father”

Religious priests are generally called by their first name (Father Damien) and diocesan priests by their last name (Father Smith), although many diocesan priests now also prefer to be called by their first name in informal conversation. When in doubt, use the last name.

Envelope Address: “Reverend (first name, last name)” or “Father (first name, last name)”

Some priests are formally addressed as “Very Reverend” when they have a special duty such as vicar general or superior of an religious congregation. So formal letters to the vicar general Father Marc Alexander would be addressed “Very Reverend Marc Alexander.”

For religious priests, add the initials of their congregation after their last name.

Letter greeting: “Dear Father (last name)”

Permanent deacon

Direct address: “Deacon (last name)”

Envelope Address: “Deacon (first name, last name)”

Letter greeting: “Dear Deacon (last name)”