I think we are supposed to call bishops “monsignor”, although we don’t. I think it’s used in Italy. Ut sive sollicite (AAS 61: 334-40), an instruction from the Secretariat of State, says we should call bishops Most Reverend Monsignor.
I believe some hold substantive offices in the Roman Curia such as prelate superiors of the various dicasteries, e.g. auditors of the Roman Rota, Promoter General of Justice, Defender of the Bond in the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Segnatura, Protonotaries Apostolic de numero, and clerics of the Apostolic Camera.
What position they hold makes absolutely no difference. If, e.g., the person is a Papal Chaplain, and is then ordained bishop, he ceases to be a Papal Chaplain. Whether he continues in whatever curial post he holds is another matter entirely.
You have misunderstood me. I meant that not all monsignore are honorific, some hold substantive post holders in the Roman Curia.
No, I didn’t misunderstand. Irrespective of any post they may hold, if they are Papal Chaplains, e.g., the title is honorific. The title goes with the Chaplaincy not with any curial post. There are actually many curial officials (some interestingly highly placed) who are simple priests. If, at some point in their career, they are granted the honorific, of course they are entitled to use it. If not, they are simply “Father” by virtue of their ordination, and do not carry the title “monsignor” or anything else.
Thank you very much for your comments. However, I prefer to rely on the directives of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, which states that the holders of the posts I listed I Post #5 are to be addressed as “Monsignor”.
Rely on whatever you wish. If they are called “monsignor” or anything else by virtue of a job, when they no longer have that, or an equivalent, job, the title ceases.
Then perhaps you should have resisted.
You can delete what you posted. Use the edit function. Hope this helps.
It will be more intuitive if you recall that the various grades of monsignori were/are given certain privileges belonging to bishops as a sign of honour e.g. the wearing of purple. Even the title itself “Monsignor” is from the bishops - although since bishops are not commonly addressed this way in the English speaking world, it is perhaps less intuitive . Thus, it is not so much that they “lose” their privileges as that they gain the full deal, so to speak. But strictly speaking, yes, they are no longer ranked among the monsignori of their former class. .