The Pope is the highest office of the Catholic Church in the world, and it demands respect, regardless of whether you are Catholic or not. As such, there are specific ways to address the Pope, either in writing or in person. Here's what you need to know for each of these methods.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Greet the Pope in Writing
Step 1. Address the Pope as "Your Holiness. Another acceptable way of addressing the Pope in writing is "Most Holy Father."
However, please note that on the envelope you must address the Pope with “His Holiness, _” by writing the Pope's name in the blank. For example, when writing to Pope Francis, the envelope should read, “Your Excellency, Pope Francis / His Holiness, Pope Francis.”
Step 2. Maintain a respectful tone
Throughout the body of the letter, you should use a polite and friendly tone. You don't have to write in fancy language, but it's best to use language that is equivalent to how you speak or are expected to speak in a Catholic church.
- Avoid swearing, using slang, insults, or other forms of disrespectful/abusive words.
- Write down everything you need and want to say, but remember that the Pope is a busy man. Instead of writing tedious and space-consuming flattery, it would be better for all concerned if you formally convey the intent of your letter directly.
Step 3. End your letter politely
If you are a Roman Catholic, you should end your letter with the following line, "It is my honor to express my deepest respect. Your Excellency, the most devout and humble servant of all. I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound respect. Your Holiness' most obedient and humble servant," before you sign the letter.
- If you are not a Catholic, you can change the ending of the letter with the words, "With every good wish to Your Holiness, I am, Sincerely Yours," followed by your signature.
- A simple sentence like "With every best wish. Sincerely Yours," with a signature after, would also be appropriate for a letter from a non-Catholic to the Pope.
- Regardless of the correct choice of words, the height of respect you show is at least commensurate with the level of respect you should have for someone in the position of Pope. A person who does not follow Catholic teachings or does not agree with the Pope, must still recognize the position of the Pope's authority and respect/respect it. Meanwhile, every follower of Catholicism must show respect as befits a person who greets his or her faith leader on Earth.
Step 4. Know the Vatican mailing address
If you plan to send a traditional letter (which is sent by airmail), you must write the following address on the envelope: His Holiness, Pope Francis / Apostolic Palace / 00120 Vatican City.
- Note that when writing on envelopes later, you must separate the address into different lines according to the placement of the slashes (/) in the example above.
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Here are some other ways to write the same address:
- His Holiness, Pope Francis PP. / 00120 Via del Pellegrino / Citta del Vaticano
- His Holiness Pope Francis / Apostolic Palace / Vatican City
- His Holiness Pope Francis / Vatican City State, 00120
- For destination countries, do not write "Italy" on your envelope. The Vatican is an independent and sovereign state, completely separate from the Italian state.
Step 5. Know the e-mail address and facsimile number of the Vatican Press Office. If you choose to send an email or a fax, you must send it to the Vatican Press Office address. The Pope does not have a personal email address or fax number.
- Email address (email): [email protected]
- Fax number: +390669885373
- Note that none of the forms of connection are directly connected to the Pope. However, the correspondence that you do using any of the above methods, will eventually be accepted by the Pope.
Method 2 of 2: Greet the Pope Directly
Step 1. Refer to the Pope as the “Holy Father. Some other appropriate ways to greet him when you meet him in person are "Your Holiness" and "Most Holy Father."
“His Holiness” and “Holy Father” are both addressed to the Pope as his title and position within the Catholic Church. When meeting face-to-face and speaking directly to the Pope, you should only address him with these titles rather than saying his name
Step 2. When the Pope enters the room, stand up and give him a round of applause
The amount of applause will vary depending on the venue. However, you should always stand respectfully as soon as the Pope walks into the room you are in.
- Usually when the venue is a small space with a small to moderate number of people, the applause is done in a calm and polite manner.
- However, for a large room, such as Mass in the field/arena, it would be appropriate if the applause was loud and even loud.
Step 3. Get on your knees-with one knee touching the floor-as the Pope approaches
If the Pope is approaching you directly, you should kneel with your right knee bent so that it touches the floor.
You don't have to make the Sign of the Cross as you would when you kneel at the Eucharist, but it's best to keep your knees bent. Kneeling is a sign of high respect
Step 4. Kiss the Pope's ring, if necessary
If you are a Catholic and the Pope extends his hand to you, it is a great time to quickly kiss the Piscatory ring, also known as the Ring of the Fisherman, which is worn by the Pope as a tradition.
- On the other hand, if the Pope extends his hand even though you are not a Catholic then you are not obliged to kiss the ring. Instead, you just need to shake his hand.
- The Fisherman's Ring is a symbol and a sign of office. By kissing him, you show respect as well as genuine affection for the person holding the position.
Step 5. Speak respectfully, clearly, and concisely
In advance, plan what you are going to say, so you don't get too caught up in your words. Also, while speaking, keep your tone clear and respectful.
- Start by introducing yourself. Say your name and say something important or appropriate about yourself.
- If you are coming to the Vatican or want to hear the Pope for a special purpose, you should also say so publicly.
- The Pope will guide the conversation, and you should let him do it. Keep your answers direct and concise. Speak loudly and clearly so that the Pope can hear him well.
Step 6. Stand when the Pope leaves the room
As soon as the Pope gets up to leave the room, you should also get up. Wait for the Pope to leave the room, before you sit back down or turn your attention to other things.
Applause at the end of an audience or event is usually unnecessary. However, if you're in a large crowd of people starting to clap, it's a good idea to join in on the applause-if that's what you want
Tips
- You can also contact the Vatican Press Office by telephone. The official (international) telephone number for the Vatican Press Office is +390669881022. However, if you dial this number, you will not be able to speak directly to the Pope.
- The Pope also has a Twitter account. You shouldn't expect the Pope to reply to every tweet, but you can become a follower of the Pope on his Twitter, which is
- Wear formal attire if you want to meet the Pope in person. If you are planning to go to an official event where the Pope will be present, or if you are invited to an audience with the Pope, you should wear your best clothes in his honor. For men, you can wear a suit (suit), tie and polished shoes. As for women, you should wear a suit or dress that is polite, long sleeved and the bottom edge of the clothes is below the knee. Courtesy is the key to respect.
- On the other hand, if you want to attend Mass in the square or just watch the Pope pass along the “popemobile/whale car” route, you can wear casual clothes. However, your attire should remain modest and attractive.
