Honorary Prelate
An Honorary Prelate of His Holiness is a priest to whom the Pope has granted this title. They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges as regards ecclesiastical dress.[1] [2]
Before the motu proprio Pontificalis Domus of 28 March 1968, Honorary Prelates were called Domestic Prelates (in Latin, Antistites Urbani), a title that then also went with certain offices such as that of Archbishop or Bishop Assistant at the Throne or membership of the Roman Prelature, and that was also maintained by Archbishops, Bishops and Apostolic Protonotaries who had been awarded it before their appointment to those positions.[3]
Today, as well as those to whom the award is granted individually, generally at the request of their bishops, the following are ex officio Honorary Prelates:
- The members of the Colleges of the Roman Prelatures: Protonotaries de numero; judges of the Rota; clerics of the Apostolic Camera;
- The Judges of the Rota of the Apostolic Nunciature to Spain;
- Some or all of the members of eight cathedral or collegial chapters in Italy and one in Poland.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Instruction on the Dress, Titles and Coat-of-Arms of Cardinals, Bishops and Lesser Prelates (31 March 1969), English translation published by the Vatican.
- ^ Latin text of the same Instruction, with an unofficial English translation
- ^ a b Annuario Pontificio 2008, p. 1915
