Current honor classes Pope Paul VI, in his 1968 publication
motu proprio Pontificalis Domus, reduced the number of papal honors allowing "Monsignor" as a style from 14 to three. The protonotary apostolic class was divided into two subsections. The classes of
chamberlains and chaplains were abolished, leaving only a single class of "chaplains of his holiness". The three papal honor classes are: •
Protonotary apostolic (two subclasses): •
De numero (the higher and less common form) • Supernumerary (the highest grade of monsignor found outside the Vatican) •
Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (formerly the "domestic prelate") However, by 2022 the title had started to be awarded again. At the October 2013 meeting of the
Council of Cardinal Advisers, Pope Francis stated his desire to scale back the honors as part of a broader effort to project a more modest and pastoral vision of leadership. As
Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis never requested papal honors for his priests, associating the honors with clerical "careerism". In December 2013, Pope Francis decreed that diocesan priests could become "Chaplain of His Holiness", the lowest of the three papal honors. He also set a minimum age required of 65. Existing honors were not affected. Pope Francis decided to continue papal honors from all three classes for two groups of clergy: • Officials of the Roman Curia • Members of the diplomatic service.
Current forms of address These are the current forms of address for a monsignor: • The written form is
Monsignor (first name) (last name) or
The Reverend Monsignor (first name) (last name). For example, "Monsignor Bob Smith" or "The Reverend Monsignor Bob Smith". • The spoken form is
Monsignor (last name). For example, "Monsignor Smith". In English-speaking countries, bishops and archbishops are not called "monsignor". However, in 1969 the Vatican
Secretariat of State indicated that bishops may be addressed as "monsignor". In some countries, the titles "Monsignore", "
Monseigneur", "Monsenyor", and "Monseñor" are used for bishops, archbishops and any other prelates below the rank of
cardinal or
patriarch. The 1969 instruction also indicated that for bishops "
Reverendissimus" (translated as "most reverend") could be added to the word "monsignor". For example, the "Most Reverend Monsignor John Doe". This instruction also applied to: • Prelates without episcopal rank who head offices of the
Roman Curia • Judges of the
Rota • The promotor general of justice and the
defender of the bond of the
Apostolic Signatura • Protonotaries apostolic "
de numero" • The four clerics of the camera.
Current ecclesiastical dress In 1979, the Vatican simplified the
dress of monsignors:
Chaplains of His Holiness Purple-trimmed black
cassocks with purple
sashes, good for all occasions.
Honorary prelates Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes, good for all occasions. Purple cassocks as choir dress for liturgical events of special solemnity.
Supernumerary protonotaries apostolics Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes. Purple cassocks as choir dress. Can also wear the purple
ferraiuolo, a silk cape. The ferraiuolo is for non-liturgical events, such as graduation and commencement ceremonies.
Protonotaries apostolics de numero Red-trimmed black cassocks with purple sashes and the purple
ferraiuolo. Purple cassocks as choir dress. They can wear the
mantelletta in choir dress with a black
biretta with a red tuft. ==Previous honor rules==