Workers in the Vatican's Office of Correspondence sort the pope's mail by language, then they read it and forward any messages with a pressing need or requesting spiritual sustenance directly to the pope. Anyone who does follow Catholic teaching should demonstrate the respect expected from one addressing the leader of his or her faith on Earth. On the other hand, if you are going to a stadium Mass or simply watching the Pope along the “popemobile” route, you can dress casually. The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. Have you ever wondered.. How does one contact the Pope himself? All letters are acknowledged with thanks. For instance, if writing to Pope Francis, the envelope would read, “His Holiness, Pope Francis.” Sincerely yours," with a signature after it would also work for a non-Catholic writing to the Pope. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Although Pope Francis has "tweeted" and embraced social media, he has no public email address. The official (international) phone number for the Vatican Press Office is +390669881022. You will not be able to speak directly to the Pope by calling this number, though. Of course they are. Something as simple as "With every best wish. For large venues, however, like a stadium Mass, loud applause and even cheers are appropriate. If you need to learn what address to use to contact the Pope, keep reading the article! The Pope is the highest earthly office of the Catholic Church, and such an office demands respect, regardless of whether you are Catholic or not. His Holiness: H.H. Address the Pope as Your Holiness. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Another acceptable way to address the Pope in writing would be Most Holy Father. The best way to address the Pope in writing or in person is by remaining respectful. Letters start with a salutation and end with a closing. Try La Croix International now for just USD 4.99 a Quarter! Seek an audience with him at St. Peter's Church. The pope (Latin: papa, ... Clement of Rome wrote in a letter to the Corinthians, c. 96, about the persecution of Christians in Rome as the "struggles in our time" and presented to the Corinthians its heroes, "first, the greatest and most just columns", the "good apostles" Peter and Paul. A good deal depends on circumstances, and, where a personal preference is known, it is usually good practice to follow it. It has historically been done before, but to gain such a blessing you would need to gain an audience with the Pope. 00120 Vatican City State, EUROPE. According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis receives a few thousand letters a week, which Correspondence Director Msgr. December 19, 2020 / by Robert Shine, Managing Editor Mexican Cardinal Endorses Pope’s Support for Civil Unions, Family Inclusion of LGBTQ Members . A letter to any dignitary should be polite, formal and neat. How do I get a response to my letters? Can I contact the pope if I am not Christian? His Holiness, Pope John Paul II (abbreviated: H.H. Although Pope Francis is unable to respond personally to all of the letters he receives, the priest assured that all who write the pontiff do receive. For instance, if writing to Pope Francis, the envelope would read, His Holiness, Pope Francis. The Vatican is considered its own independent nation, completely separate from Italy. Once I made a mistake of dropping my letter for a friend to the trash instead of post box, he still got it. Try to limit your letter to one page, and, if possible, type it for easier reading by those for whom English is not their first language. Should young people receiving Confirmation be charged a sacramental fee? A letter written to him would be addressed, "His Holiness, Pope John Paul II," with the salutation, "Your Holiness" or "Most Holy Father." How do I address the pope? Follow "Dear" with the title "Father" and the priest's first and last name, if you are unacquainted or not well acquainted with him. One ChurchPOP reader sent us Pope Francis’ response after he followed these instructions for sending the pope a letter. This requires directing the envelope to: Sua Santità Francesco Segretería di Stato This article has been viewed 257,757 times. I am in a wheelchair. He is one of the most important leaders in the world, so the mission is not that simple. Keep writing regularly, but recognize that the pope gets a lot of mail each day, so you may not get a response for a very long time. Kissing the Sacred Foot: Abbreviations. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Someone who does not follow Catholic teaching or who disagrees with the Pope should still recognize his position of authority and close in a respectful manner. http://www.formsofaddress.info/FOA_pope_catholic.html, http://www.catholictradition.org/Saints/forms-address.htm, https://www.askacatholic.com/_TheChurch/vatican_mailingaddress.cfm, http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0077.html, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89667043, https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89667043, https://www.npr.org/2015/09/18/441173894/so-youre-going-to-meet-the-pope-a-primer-on-the-pontiff, Menyapa Paus (Pemimpin Tertinggi Gereja Katolik), consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow, Note, however, that on the envelope, you should address the Pope as “His Holiness, ________” with the Pope's name in the blank. Is it better to write a letter to the Pope in English or in Spanish? The Pope also has has a Twitter account. I have written to the pope twice, but I haven't received a response. The following are forms of address used by Catholics in letters and in speech. She holds a master's degree in international business administration from the University of South Carolina. Pope Francis Domus Sanctae Marthae 00120 Vatican City State and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Mater Ecclesiae monastery 00120 Vatican City… Pope Francis addresses the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy on 25 June 2015 . In the USA . Note that you should separate the address onto separate lines according to the placements of the slashes. May God bless you." Your clothes should still be modest and tasteful, however. Vatican.com: Does the Pope Have a Personal Email Address? If you're writing to a Catholic bishop, address them as "Most Reverend" followed by their full name. The Pope will guide the conversation, and you should let him do so. This means using his official address of “His Holiness.” Brevity is important simply because he gets a lot of mail. All those wishing to write to the Pope, may send their letters to the following address: His Holiness Pope Francis 00120 Vatican City Pope Francis does not have a public email address, the only way to contact His Holiness is through the traditional mail service. Holy Father Your Holiness Most Holy Father : Envelope Address. As such, there are specific ways to address the Pope both in writing and in person. Letters addressed to "His Holiness, Pope Francis" or "His Holiness, the Pope" use "Citta del Vaticano" or Vatican City, not Italy, for the country name. What to write to the POPE on the online letter to be sent by the LetteraSenzaBusta service? See disclaimer. Whether your question is how to address a letter to a Senator, or how to introduce a Rabbi, or how to begin a letter to your attorney, we have the answer for you. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. Protocol: After being introduced, kneel on your left knee and kiss his ring as a sign of respect for his office. Most Holy Father: Concluding a letter: Your Holiness’ most humble servant, Speaking to: Your Holiness or Holy Father. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. This web posting may help: When writing the Pope, what is the proper way to conclude my letter with enclosed questions? His Holiness, Pope Francis Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City. Ecclesia Dei. "[1] X Research source Note, however, that on the envelope, you should address the Pope as “His Holiness, _____” with the Pope's name in the blank. Another acceptable way to address the Pope in writing would be "Most Holy Father. The Catholic faith is open to all. Forms of Address. Usually, if the venue is a small room with a small to mid-size crowd, the applause is quiet and polite. Cardinals. Lately, some people will reverse the word order, saying, "Cardinal William Keeler" instead of "William Cardinal Keeler." The Ring of the Fisherman is a symbol and mark of the office. Are disabled Christians also part of the Roman Catholic Church? A good general closing for a formal or business letter to a priest is "Yours sincerely," followed … All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Instead of dragging on and spending extensive space on flattery, it would be better for all parties concerned if you kept the formalities basic and went directly into the purpose of your letter. The clergy is obliged to give the sacrament to anyone seeking it. Alternatively, make sure you attend any papal visits, such as charity sessions in foreign countries. No, the Pope is not God, the Pope is just the highest Earthly official for the Catholic Church. ON-LINE GUIDE TO: FORMS OF ADDRESS * * * BLOG: Robert Hickey: Answers Questions: From On-Line Users * * * VIDEO of Robert Hickey * * * About the book: HONOR & RESPECT: General Information : Who Is Using the Book? For instance, if writing to Pope Francis, the envelope would read, “His Holiness, Pope Francis.”. Give your name and say something important or fitting about yourself. If you are not a Catholic, you can change the closing to something along the lines of, "With every good wish to Your Holiness, I am, Sincerely Yours," followed by your signature. You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. Formal closing: Kissing the Sacred Foot, Formal introduction: His Holiness, the Pope. You could simply shake his hand, instead. Keep your answers direct and brief, and speak in a clear, loud voice so that the Pope can hear you. Etiquette School of Ohio: Addressing The Pope, Catholic News Service: Letters to Pope Read 'With the Heart,' Vatican Official Says, Fr. The place Pope Francis chose to sign his letter to young people is an important and popular sanctuary housing the Holy House of Loreto. You need to show respect for both Pope Francis and the office of the papacy, which was established by Christ himself. _____n. Any language is acceptable. Write a letter. How to address the clergy. % of people told us that this article helped them. Letters addressed to "His Holiness, Pope Francis" or "His Holiness, the Pope" use "Citta del Vaticano" or Vatican City, not Italy, for the country name. Note that on the envelope, you should address the Pope as His Holiness, _____ with the Pope's name in the blank. If you came to the Vatican for a specific purpose or desired an audience with the Pope for a specific purpose, you should also state that. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Address-the-Pope-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Address-the-Pope-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Address-the-Pope-Step-1.jpg\/aid3283827-v4-728px-Address-the-Pope-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"