Eminence (style)

[[File:Portrait of Bernardino Spada (by Guido Reni) – Galleria Spada.jpg|right|thumb|"His Eminence" is a commonly accepted style of reference to refer to a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].<br>(Portrait of Cardinal [[Bernardino Spada]] by [[Guido Reni]], {{Circa|1631}}.)]]{{Short description|Style of reference for high nobility}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

'''His Eminence''' (abbreviated '''H.Em.''' or '''HE''') is a [[style (manner of address)|style of reference]] for [[high nobility|religious nobility]]; among others, it is the traditional style to refer to a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].

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

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

[[Patriarch]]s of [[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 (order)|Grand Master]] of the [[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.<ref name="malta">{{cite web|title=History of the Order 1099–1999 |publisher=Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Grand Priory of England |url=http://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/history.htm#1600-1834 |access-date=6 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724182811/http://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/history.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}</ref> He had already been made a [[Reichsfürst]] (i.e., prince of the Holy Roman Empire) in 1607.

The [[Prince of the Church|Prince]] and [[Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller|Grand Master]] of the contemporary [[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]] 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 [[faith]]s or [[religious denomination|denomination]]s of [[Christianity]], the title is officially maintained in international [[diplomacy]] without regard for its [[doctrine|doctrinal]], [[philosophy|philosophical]] and [[theology|theological]] origins.

==Eastern Orthodox Church== [[Archbishop]]s under the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] (those who are not the [[Primate (bishop)|primates]] of [[autocephalous]] churches) and [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitans]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] are addressed with the style of "Eminence".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goarch.org/-/forms-of-addresses-and-salutations-for-orthodox-clergy |title=Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy |access-date=19 February 2019 }}</ref> [[Archbishops]] of independent churches are addressed with the style of "[[His Beatitude|Beatitude]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern Orthodox Hierarchy – Orthodox Church America |url=https://www.easternorthodoxchristian.com/their-description-of-rank |access-date=24 October 2025 |website=easternorthodoxchristian.com}}</ref> [[Titular metropolitan]]s are addressed with the style of "[[Excellency]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy |url=https://www.goarch.org/-/forms-of-addresses-and-salutations-for-orthodox-clergy |access-date=24 October 2025 |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America}}</ref>

The [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] and the [[Metropolitan Bishop]] of [[Thessaloniki]] (when they are inside their territorial jurisdictions) are styled "[[His All-Holiness]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/address-of-his-all-holiness-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew |access-date=14 October 2025 |website=World Council of Churches |publisher=Oikoumene.org}}</ref>

The patriarchs of [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch|Antiochia]] and [[Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], as well as the [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian]] Patriarch, are referred to as "His Beatitude".<ref>{{cite web |title=Statutes of the Romanian Orthodox Church (2008, amended 2011) |url=https://orthodoxhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Romanian-Orthodox-Church-Statutes.pdf |access-date=14 October 2025 |website=Orthodox History Foundation}}</ref>, whereas the [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian]], [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Bulgarian]] and [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] patriarchs, are referred to as "His Holiness", and the patriarch of the [[Georgian Orthodox Church]] is addressed as "His Holiness and Beatitude".<ref>{{cite web |title=Congratulation on the 43rd Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II |url=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 |access-date=14 October 2025 |website=State Agency for Religious Issues of Georgia (TSAS)}}</ref>

==Oriental Orthodoxy== In [[Oriental Orthodoxy]], Archbishops holding the rank of [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] are referred to as "His Eminence".

In [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] the [[Catholicos of the East]] who is also the [[Maphrian|Maphrian of the East]] and the Bishop holding the ecclesiastical office of the [[Catholicos of India]] is referred to as "His Beatitude Catholicose".

==Other religions== In the [[Philippine Independent Church]], an [[Independent Catholicism|Independent Catholic]] denomination with [[Anglo-Catholicism|Anglo-Catholic]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=‘Women are called’: Photo of female church leaders breaks religious stereotypes |url=https://coconuts.co/manila/news/women-are-called-photo-of-female-church-leaders-breaks-religious-stereotypes/ |date=December 20, 2022 |publisher=[[Coconuts Manila]] |website=[[Yahoo! News]] [[Yahoo! Philippines|Philippines]] |access-date=December 21, 2022}}</ref> orientation, the [[supreme bishop]]s, who are the church's head [[Primate (bishop)|primates]], are referred to as "His Eminence" and "Your Eminence" in their official [[Style (form of address)|form of address or style]].

In [[Tibetan Buddhism]] and [[Bön]], ''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]], then the teachers immediately subordinate will usually be accorded the English title ''His Eminence''. For example, in the [[Karma Kagyu]], His Holiness the 16th [[Gyalwa Karmapa]] had 4 principal disciples who held regency until the enthronement of the 17th Karmapa. Each of these 4 high [[lama]]s hold/held the title ''His Eminence''. In the Southern [[Drukpa Kagyu]] in [[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]] for highly honorable religious leaders. For example, an [[Ayatollah]] or [[Marja']] in [[Shia]], Imam of the [[Barelwi|Sunni Barelwi]] school of thought, Grand Master of the [[Murji'ah|Murjite Order]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Murjite Order|url=https://murjite.org/|access-date=24 May 2021|website=Murjite Order|language=en-US}}</ref> Moulana Syed Madani Mia, is often addressed with this title, along with individuals such as Moulana Khushtar Siddiqi of [[Mauritius]], although these titles are, in essence, unofficial. Beyond this, the [[Nigerian traditional rulers|traditional rulers]] of the [[Administrative division|sub-national state]]s of the [[Fulani people|Fulani]], [[Hausa people|Hausa]], [[Nupe people|Nupe]] and [[Kanuri people|Kanuri]] peoples of [[Nigeria]] use the style as an alternative to the [[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 dynasty|Rasulid Order]] is styled '''His Most Eminent Royal Highness''' (abbreviated '''HMERH''').<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 April 2021|title=Royal House of Tahir Buruj|url=https://tahirburuj.com/orders/|access-date=24 May 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518152616/https://tahirburuj.com/orders/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Ecclesiastical address]] *{{lang|it-IT|[[Sua Emittenza]]}}, nickname for Italian broadcaster and politician [[Silvio Berlusconi]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Eminence|short=x}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eminence}} [[Category:Ecclesiastical styles]] [[Category:Cardinals (Catholic Church)]] [[Category:Royal styles]]