A Question on Titles

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CutlerB

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The Holy See has just announced the new Archbishop for the most ancient and prestigious See of Cologne, the current Archbishop of Berlin, Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki.

This brought a question to my mind, what is the most complete (forgive the double superlative) title he could now be called by? To me, it would be

His Eminence The Most Reverend Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki.

But somehow, I’m not sure about the combination of “His Eminence” and “The Most Reverend”, because the latter is also the title of Bishops. “His Excellency” is the proper reference to a non-Cardinal Bishop. Does “The Most Reverend” then drop out, if the Bishop is given the Red Hat?

Perhaps you can help. 🙂
 
As important and respectful as titles are, you can never be wrong with “Father”. And, if he is a religious, you can even forego “Father” and address him as “brother”, and I am sure he will take no offense.
 
Apologies if I am mistaken, however I think “Eminence” is only applicable for Cardinals.

I have always addressed Archbishops, Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops “Your Excellency”.
 
TheDoctor said:
Apologies if I am mistaken, however I think “Eminence” is only applicable for Cardinals.

I have always addressed Archbishops, Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops “Your Excellency”.
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But he IS a Cardinal! 😃 He is a Cardinal, and an Archbishop.
 
CutlerB said:
But he IS a Cardinal! 😃 He is a Cardinal, and an Archbishop.
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Sorry Cutler, read the initial post too fast.

OK, so knowing that (:o) would his title as Cardinal simply continue to be used? He already was an Archbishop…how about just Father Woelki?😃

P.S. Just saw where you live. Good luck on Sunday.
 
TheDoctor said:
Sorry Cutler, read the initial post too fast.

OK, so knowing that (:o) would his title as Cardinal simply continue to be used? He already was an Archbishop…how about just Father Woelki?😃

P.S. Just saw where you live. Good luck on Sunday.
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He keeps his title as Cardinal, and even if he didn’t… the Archbishop of Cologne always gets the red hat.

Thanks, I hope it works out! 🙂
 
I believe you would just address him:

His Eminence, Archbishop (of Cologne), Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki

Since, you address him by his rank, so a Bishop who is a Cardinal gets this distinction. The “Most Reverend” would just be redundant and superfluous.

I could be wrong so don’t hold me on this, a good resource to check out would be The Church Visible by an-author-whose-name-escapes-me-now , it describes the formal protocols of the Church and the Roman Curia.
 
His Eminence, Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki
Archbishop of Cologne
 
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