# Eminence (style)

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"His Eminence" is a commonly accepted style of reference to refer to a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)).
(Portrait of Cardinal [Bernardino Spada](/source/Bernardino_Spada) by [Guido Reni](/source/Guido_Reni), c. 1631.)

Style of reference for high nobility

**His Eminence** (abbreviated **H.Em.** or **HE**) is a [style of reference](/source/Style_(manner_of_address)) for [religious nobility](/source/High_nobility); among others, it is the traditional style to refer to a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)).

## Catholicism

The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of address in reference to a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), reflecting his status as a [Prince of the Church](/source/Prince_of_the_Church).

A longer, and more formal, title is "**His** [or **Your** when addressing the cardinal directly] **Most Reverend Eminence**".

[Patriarchs](/source/Patriarch) of [Eastern Catholic Churches](/source/Eastern_Catholic_Churches) who are also cardinals may be addressed as "His Eminence" or by the style particular to Catholic patriarchs, **His Beatitude**.

In 1630, the [Grand Master](/source/Grand_master_(order)) of the [Sovereign Military Order of Malta](/source/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta) was awarded the hybrid style **His Most Eminent Highness** (abbreviation **HMEH**) to recognize his status as a type of Prince of the Church, by precedence the most senior official after the most junior member of the cardinals.[1] He had already been made a [Reichsfürst](/source/Reichsf%C3%BCrst) (i.e., prince of the Holy Roman Empire) in 1607.

The [Prince](/source/Prince_of_the_Church) and [Grand Master](/source/Grand_Master_of_the_Knights_Hospitaller) of the contemporary [Sovereign Military Order of Malta](/source/Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta) is still styled His Most Eminent Highness. Styles such as "His Grand Eminence" or "His Eminent Grace" amongst others were used as well, some formalized by the [Pope](/source/Pope) or other powers, such as monarchs. However, many others were simply the personal preference of the cardinal and by the merit of other earthly offices.

While the term is shunned by many individuals of other [faiths](/source/Faith) or [denominations](/source/Religious_denomination) of [Christianity](/source/Christianity), the title is officially maintained in international [diplomacy](/source/Diplomacy) without regard for its [doctrinal](/source/Doctrine), [philosophical](/source/Philosophy) and [theological](/source/Theology) origins.

## Eastern Orthodox Church

[Archbishops](/source/Archbishop) under the [Ecumenical Patriarchate](/source/Ecumenical_Patriarchate) (those who are not the [primates](/source/Primate_(bishop)) of [autocephalous](/source/Autocephalous) churches) and [metropolitans](/source/Metropolitan_bishop) in the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) are addressed with the style of "Eminence".[2] [Archbishops](/source/Archbishops) of independent churches are addressed with the style of "[Beatitude](/source/His_Beatitude)".[3] [Titular metropolitans](/source/Titular_metropolitan) are addressed with the style of "[Excellency](/source/Excellency)".[4]

The [Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople](/source/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople) and the [Metropolitan Bishop](/source/Metropolitan_Bishop) of [Thessaloniki](/source/Thessaloniki) (when they are inside their territorial jurisdictions) are styled "[His All-Holiness](/source/His_All-Holiness)".[5]

The patriarchs of [Alexandria](/source/Greek_Orthodox_Church_of_Alexandria), [Antiochia](/source/Greek_Orthodox_Church_of_Antioch) and [Jerusalem](/source/Greek_Orthodox_Church_of_Jerusalem), as well as the [Romanian](/source/Romanian_Orthodox_Church) Patriarch, are referred to as "His Beatitude".[6], whereas the [Serbian](/source/Serbian_Orthodox_Church), [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_Orthodox_Church) and [Russian](/source/Russian_Orthodox_Church) patriarchs, are referred to as "His Holiness", and the patriarch of the [Georgian Orthodox Church](/source/Georgian_Orthodox_Church) is addressed as "His Holiness and Beatitude".[7]

## Oriental Orthodoxy

In [Oriental Orthodoxy](/source/Oriental_Orthodoxy), Archbishops holding the rank of [metropolitan](/source/Metropolitan_bishop) are referred to as "His Eminence".

In [Syriac Orthodox Church](/source/Syriac_Orthodox_Church) the [Catholicos of the East](/source/Catholicos_of_the_East) who is also the [Maphrian of the East](/source/Maphrian) and the Bishop holding the ecclesiastical office of the [Catholicos of India](/source/Catholicos_of_India) is referred to as "His Beatitude Catholicose".

## Other religions

In the [Philippine Independent Church](/source/Philippine_Independent_Church), an [Independent Catholic](/source/Independent_Catholicism) denomination with [Anglo-Catholic](/source/Anglo-Catholicism)[8] orientation, the [supreme bishops](/source/Supreme_bishop), who are the church's head [primates](/source/Primate_(bishop)), are referred to as "His Eminence" and "Your Eminence" in their official [form of address or style](/source/Style_(form_of_address)).

In [Tibetan Buddhism](/source/Tibetan_Buddhism) and [Bön](/source/B%C3%B6n), *His Eminence/Your Eminence* is the English translation of several Tibetan titles (e.g., *Khentin*) which signify associate lineage holders and regents of lineages. If the lineage holder of any particular lineage is referred to in English as [His Holiness](/source/His_Holiness), then the teachers immediately subordinate will usually be accorded the English title *His Eminence*. For example, in the [Karma Kagyu](/source/Karma_Kagyu), His Holiness the 16th [Gyalwa Karmapa](/source/Gyalwa_Karmapa) had 4 principal disciples who held regency until the enthronement of the 17th Karmapa. Each of these 4 high [lamas](/source/Lama) hold/held the title *His Eminence*. In the Southern [Drukpa Kagyu](/source/Drukpa_Kagyu) in [Bhutan](/source/Bhutan), the Five Lopons of the Zhung Dratshang are styled "Their Eminences".

It is also used, often informally (perhaps as a rendering of an oriental style), in [Islam](/source/Islam) for highly honorable religious leaders. For example, an [Ayatollah](/source/Ayatollah) or [Marja'](/source/Marja') in [Shia](/source/Shia), Imam of the [Sunni Barelwi](/source/Barelwi) school of thought, Grand Master of the [Murjite Order](/source/Murji'ah),[9] Moulana Syed Madani Mia, is often addressed with this title, along with individuals such as Moulana Khushtar Siddiqi of [Mauritius](/source/Mauritius), although these titles are, in essence, unofficial. Beyond this, the [traditional rulers](/source/Nigerian_traditional_rulers) of the [sub-national states](/source/Administrative_division) of the [Fulani](/source/Fulani_people), [Hausa](/source/Hausa_people), [Nupe](/source/Nupe_people) and [Kanuri](/source/Kanuri_people) peoples of [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria) use the style as an alternative to the [HRH](/source/HRH) style that is usually used by the country's royal monarchs, highlighting by so doing their positions as spiritual as well as temporal leaders. The Lord of the [Rasulid Order](/source/Rasulid_dynasty) is styled **His Most Eminent Royal Highness** (abbreviated **HMERH**).[10]

## See also

- [Ecclesiastical address](/source/Ecclesiastical_address)

- *[Sua Emittenza](/source/Sua_Emittenza)*, nickname for Italian broadcaster and politician [Silvio Berlusconi](/source/Silvio_Berlusconi)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-malta_1-0)** ["History of the Order 1099–1999"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080724182811/http://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/history.htm). Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Grand Priory of England. Archived from [the original](http://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/history.htm#1600-1834) on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy"](https://www.goarch.org/-/forms-of-addresses-and-salutations-for-orthodox-clergy). Retrieved 19 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Eastern Orthodox Hierarchy – Orthodox Church America"](https://www.easternorthodoxchristian.com/their-description-of-rank). *easternorthodoxchristian.com*. Retrieved 24 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy"](https://www.goarch.org/-/forms-of-addresses-and-salutations-for-orthodox-clergy). *Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America*. Retrieved 24 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew"](https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/address-of-his-all-holiness-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew). *World Council of Churches*. Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Statutes of the Romanian Orthodox Church (2008, amended 2011)"](https://orthodoxhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Romanian-Orthodox-Church-Statutes.pdf) (PDF). *Orthodox History Foundation*. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Congratulation on the 43rd Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II"](https://www.tsas.ge/en/feedback/article/86118-congratulation-in-connection-with-the-43rd-anniversary-of-the-enthronement-of-the-catholicos-patriarch-of-all-georgia-archbishop-of-mtskheta-and-tbilisi-metropolitan-of-bichvinta-and-tskhum-abkhazetihis-holiness-and-beatitude-ilia-ii). *State Agency for Religious Issues of Georgia (TSAS)*. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["'Women are called': Photo of female church leaders breaks religious stereotypes"](https://coconuts.co/manila/news/women-are-called-photo-of-female-church-leaders-breaks-religious-stereotypes/). *[Yahoo! News](/source/Yahoo!_News) [Philippines](/source/Yahoo!_Philippines)*. [Coconuts Manila](/source/Coconuts_Manila). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Murjite Order"](https://murjite.org/). *Murjite Order*. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Royal House of Tahir Buruj"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210518152616/https://tahirburuj.com/orders/). 17 April 2021. Archived from [the original](https://tahirburuj.com/orders/) on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

## External links

- ["Eminence"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Eminence). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)* (11th ed.). 1911.

v t e Imperial, royal, and noble styles Forms of address for popes, royalty, and nobility Africa Nəgusä Nägäst Nkosi Pharaoh Mansa Faama Buurba Damel Teigne Lamane Kurmina-fari Saltigue Maad Buumi Silatigi Almami Moro-Naba Oba Yaa Naa Western Holiness Imperial and Royal Majesty (HI&RM) Imperial and Most Faithful Majesty Imperial Majesty (HIM) Apostolic Majesty (HAM) Catholic Monarchs Catholic Majesty (HCM) Most Christian Majesty (HMCM) Most Faithful Majesty (HMFM) Orthodox Majesty (HOM) Britannic Majesty (HBM) Most Excellent Majesty Most Gracious Majesty Royal Majesty (HRM) Majesty (HM) Grace (HG) Royal Highness (HRH) Monseigneur (Msgr) Most Eminent Highness (HMEH) Exalted Highness (HEH) Highness (HH) Serene Highness (HSH) Illustrious Highness (HIll.H) Excellency (HE) Most Excellent Most Illustrious Hochgeboren Hochwohlgeboren Wohlgeboren Much Honoured (The Much Hon.) Milord (Millourt) Antiquity Ancient Rome Pater Patriae Augustus Sebastos Dominus Georgia Mepe Middle Ages Imperial and Royal Highness (HI&RH) Imperial Highness (HIH) Royal Highness (HRH) Grand Ducal Highness (HGDH) Highness (HH) Ducal Serene Highness (HDSH) Serene Highness (HSH) Serenity (HS) Illustrious Highness (HIll.H) Grace (HG) Excellency (HE) Specific culture Don Senhor Republic Most Serene Republic Asian Baghatur Duli Yang Maha Mulia Great king Khan Khagan King of Kings Raja Maharaja Mikado Shah Padishah Shogun Son of Heaven Islamic Agha Agha Khan Effendi Emir Amir al-Mu'minin Hadra A'la-Hazrat Khalifa Malik Mawla Sayyid Sahib Sahib-ul-Ma'ali Sharif Sheikh Sultanic Highness Countries France Georgia Netherlands Portugal Serbia Sweden United Kingdom Canada Scotland See also By the Grace of God Divine right of kings Defender of the Faith (Fidei defensor) Defender of the Holy Sepulchre Great Catholic Monarch List of current sovereign monarchs List of current constituent monarchs Protector Sacred king Translatio imperii Victory title Wikipedia:WikiProject Royalty and Nobility

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Ecclestiastical_styles)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3AEcclestiastical_styles)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Ecclestiastical_styles)

Catholic Church Style Pope His Holiness Cardinal His Eminence Bishop His Excellency

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eminence (style)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminence_(style)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminence_(style)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.