Eminence (style)

For the racehorse, seeHis Eminence (horse).

"His Eminence" is a commonly accepted style of reference to refer to acardinal.
(Portrait of Roman Catholic CardinalBernardino SpadabyGuido Reni,c. 1631.)

His Eminence(abbreviationH.Em.orHE) is astyle of referencefor high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.

Catholicism

The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of address in reference to acardinalof theCatholic Church,reflecting his status as aPrince of the Church.

A longer, and more formal, title is "His(orYourwhen addressing the cardinal directly)Most Reverend Eminence".^[a]

PatriarchsofEastern Catholic Churcheswho are also cardinals may be addressed as "His Eminence" or by the style particular to Catholic patriarchs,His Beatitude.

When theGrand Masterof theSovereign Military Order of Malta,the head of state of their sovereignterritorial statecomprising the island of Malta until 1797, who had already been made aReichsfürst(i.e., prince of the Holy Roman Empire) in 1607, became (in terms of honorary order of precedence, not in the actual church hierarchy of ordained ministers) the most senior official after the most junior member of the cardinals in 1630, he was also awarded the hybrid styleHis Most Eminent Highness(abbreviationHMEH) to recognize his status as a type of Prince of the Church.

ThePrinceandGrand Masterof the contemporarySovereign Military Order of Maltais 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 thePopeor 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 otherfaithsordenominationsofChristianity,the title is officially maintained in internationaldiplomacywithout regard for itsdoctrinal,philosophicalandtheologicalorigins.

Eastern Orthodox Church

Archbishopsunder theEcumenical Patriarchateandmetropolitansin theEastern Orthodox Churchare addressed with the style of "Eminence".Archbishopsof independent churches are addressed with the style of "Beatitude".Titular metropolitansare addressed with the style of "Excellency".

TheEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinopleand theMetropolitan BishopofThessalonikiare styled "His All-Holiness".The patriarchs ofAlexandria,AntiochiaandJerusalem,as well as theSerbian,BulgarianandRussianpatriarchs are referred to as "His Holiness", whileRomanianPatriarchs are referred to as "His Beatitude". The patriarch of theGeorgian Orthodox Churchis a unique exception, being addressed as "His Holiness and Beatitude".

Oriental Orthodoxy

InOriental Orthodoxy,bishops holding the rank ofmetropolitanare referred to as "His Eminence".

InSyriac Orthodox ChurchtheCatholicose of Indiawho is also theMaphrian of the Eastis referred to as "His Beatitude Catholicose".

Other religions

In thePhilippine Independent Church,anIndependent Catholicdenomination withAnglo-Catholicorientation, thesupreme bishops,who are the church's headprimates,are referred to as "His Eminence" and "Your Eminence" in their officialform of address or style.

InTibetan BuddhismandBön,His Eminence/Your Eminenceis 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 asHis Holiness,then the teachers immediately subordinate will usually be accorded the English titleHis Eminence.For example, in theKarma Kagyu,His Holiness the 16thGyalwa Karmapahad 4 principal disciples who held regency until the enthronement of the 17th Karmapa. Each of these 4 highlamashold/held the titleHis Eminence.In the SouthernDrukpa KagyuinBhutan,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), inIslamfor highly honorable religious leaders. For example, anAyatollahorMarja'inShia,Imam of theSunni Barelwischool of thought, Grand Master of theMurjite Order,Moulana Syed Madani Mia, is often addressed with this title, along with individuals such as Moulana Khushtar Siddiqi ofMauritius,although these titles are, in essence, unofficial. Beyond this, thetraditional rulersof thesub-national statesof theFulani,Hausa,NupeandKanuripeoples ofNigeriause the style as an alternative to theHRHstyle 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 theRasulid Orderis styledHis Most Eminent Royal Highness(abbreviatedHMERH).

See also

• Ecclesiastical address
• Sua Emittenza,nickname for Italian broadcaster and politicianSilvio Berlusconi

External links

• "Eminence".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). 1911.

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