'His Holiness' is the official
style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In the
Coptic Orthodox Church and in the
Catholic Church (including the
Eastern Catholic Churches), the style is used when referring to the
Pope of Alexandria and the
Pope of Rome. It is also used in reference to some other
patriarchs in the Christian
Orthodox Church. In
Tibetan Buddhism, the
Dalai Lama is also addressed in the same manner in
English, as are other Buddhist leaders such as
Sakya Trizin, the Patriarch of
Sakyapa. Adherents of
Kemetic Orthodoxy use the term "Her Holiness" for their leader. Also, the leader of
Raëlism,
Raël, styles himself "His Holiness" as the Raelist prophet.
Usage
In Catholicism, the style derives from the
Latin ''Sanctitas''. It was originally used for all bishops, but from the 7th century on, it was only used for Popes, Patriarchs and some secular rulers, and from the 14th century on its use has been restricted to the
Pope of Alexandria and the
Pope of Rome. In the
Dawoodi Bohra sect, a sect of the
Ismaili branch of
Shia Islam, the title is held by
Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.
The title is used officially in international
diplomacy and in formal contexts without regard for its
doctrinal,
philosophical and
theological origins.
See also
★
Use of courtesy titles and honorifics in professional writing
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