Holiness (style)

The title His Holiness (and the associated form of address Your Holiness) is an official title or style referring to the pope; this use can be traced back several hundred years. It is also an official title for Oriental Orthodox patriarchs or Catholicoi. The title is also used by other religious leaders such as Lu Sheng-yen, the Dalai Lama, the Menri Trizin, and Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras, etc.

Christianity

Catholic Church

''His Holiness'' ( lat, Sanctitas) is the official style used to address the Roman Catholic pope.

The full papal title, rarely used, is:

: ''His Holiness (Francis), Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God.''

The best-known title, that of "Pope", does not appear in the official list of titles, but is commonly used in the titles of documents and appears, in abbreviated form, in their signatures as "PP", standing for ''Papa'' (''Pope''). The 2020 '' Annuario Pontificio'' lists all of his formal titles, except Bishop of Rome, as "historical titles".

It is customary when referring to popes to translate the regnal name into local languages. Thus he is ''Papa Franciscus'' in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), ''Papa Francesco'' in Italian (the language of the Vatican), ''Papa Francisco'' in his native Spanish, and ''Pope Francis'' in English.

In February 2013, the Holy See announced that former Pope Benedict XVI would retain the style "His Holiness" after resigning and becoming pope emeritus.

The term is sometimes abbreviated as "HH" or "H.H." when confusion with "His/Her Highness" is unlikely.

Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches

''His Holiness'' ( lat, Sanctitas) is the official style also used to address the Oriental Orthodox Catholicoi/ patriarchs. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople has the title of His All Holiness (abbreviation HAH). It is also used for certain other Eastern patriarchs, notably those who head a church or rite which recognizes neither Rome's nor Constantinople's primacy.

Other religions

The English-language honorific "His Holiness" and the female version "Her Holiness" have commonly been used for religious leaders from other traditions, including Buddhist leaders such as the Dalai Lama, the Gyalwa Karmapa, the Je Khenpo in Bhutan and Her Holiness Shinso Ito of the Shinnyo-en branch of Shingon Buddhism. In the Bön tradition it is used for the Menri Trizin. In Islam it is used in Ahmadiyya Sunni for the Caliph and in the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Ismaili Shia for the office of Da'i al-Mutlaq, Syedna.

See also

* Body of Christ
* Communion of saints

References

{{Ecclestiastical styles

Ecclesiastical styles
Papal titles
Royal styles
Religious honorifics