Conferral of title 'monsignor' abolished for diocesan priests under 65

Pope Francis has abolished the conferral of the Pontifical Honour of ‘Monsignor’ for secular priests under the age of 65. In a communique to Apostolic Nuncios around the world the office of the Vatican Secretary of State asked Apostolic Nuncios to inform all bishops in their respective countries of this decision.

On 2 January, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, wrote to all bishops in Great Britain with the news. He confirmed that “the privileges in this regard” that have already been granted by the Roman Pontiff to “physical or juridical persons” remain in force, suggesting that priests who are already monsignors will not lose their title.

When Pope Francis was bishop and later cardinal in Argentina he always asked people to call him ‘Father’, instead of ‘My Lord’, ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your Eminence’. During his tenure as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 - 2013, he never asked the Holy See to confer the title of ‘monsignor’ on any priest in the archdiocese.

In taking this decision, Pope Francis is building on the reform in this area of ecclesiastical titles that was introduced by Paul VI in 1968, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.

Before Paul VI’s reform in 1968, there were 14 grades of ‘monsignor’. These were reduced to the three that exist today: Apostolic Protonotary, Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, Chaplain of His Holiness - titles which date back to the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII 1623-1644.

These three honours can be granted by the Pope, usually on the proposal of the local bishop, to Catholic priests who have rendered particularly valuable service to the Church. The priests given these Pontifical Honours may be addressed as ‘Monsignor’ and have certain privileges, such as those regarding ecclesiastical dress and vestments.