Q&A for How to Address the Pope

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Is it better to write a letter to the Pope in English or in Spanish?

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Any language is acceptable. It's probably best to just write in your native language.

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Are disabled Christians also part of the Roman Catholic Church?

Community Answer

Of course they are. It's a religion and it does not matter if you are disabled or not. It's your faith and what you believe that matters.

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How can you meet the Holy Father?

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Seek an audience with him at St. Peter's Church. Alternatively, make sure you attend any papal visits, such as charity sessions in foreign countries.

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Should young people receiving Confirmation be charged a sacramental fee?

Blackaddergoes4

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No, it's a sacrament. The clergy is obliged to give the sacrament to anyone seeking it.

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Is the Pope God?

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No, the Pope is not God, the Pope is just the highest Earthly official for the Catholic Church.

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I am in a wheelchair. How do I address the pope?

Community Answer

Bow your head or do whatever is possible for you to demonstrate respect and fidelity to his authority.

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Can I contact the pope if I am not Christian?

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Yes, of course, you can. The Catholic faith is open to all.

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I have written to the pope twice, but I haven't received a response. How do I get a response to my letters?

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Keep writing regularly, but recognize that the pope gets a lot of mail each day, so you may not get a response for a very long time.

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How do I write a letter to the Pope?

Community Answer

A letter to any dignitary should be polite, formal and neat. Introduce yourself first and then go into your reason for writing to him. Keep your writing style and layout formal.

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Question

Is it possible to receive a blessing from the Pope for good health for myself so I can take care of my terminally ill husband?

Community Answer

It has historically been done before, but to gain such a blessing you would need to gain an audience with the Pope.

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Is it OK to receive Holy Communion by a layperson and is it OK to receive Holy Communion in your hands?

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Yes, laypeople are trained as extraordinary ministers to offer communion, and communion in the hand is permitted.

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I was reading Deuteronomy the other day and it says there is only one God. Jesus even says it's the most important commandment. Why do you say there are three Gods?

Community Answer

There is only one God, and we do not claim that there are three. The trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are three different aspects of the same God.

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Do you have pope Francis's mailing address, or how I can reach him?

Community Answer

The address is: His Holiness Pope Francis, Apostolic Palace, 00120 Vatican City.

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My fiancee and I bought a house and we want it blessed. Can we request that a priest bless our house even though we are not married yet?

Community Answer

Yes, priests love it when you ask for things to be blessed, even though you aren't married. He will understand.

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Can I send a letter to the Pope if I'm Christian but not Catholic?

Community Answer

Absolutely, yes. It does not matter who you are. The Catholic faith is open to conversations with anyone, regardless of any differences.

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Will the Pope really read something if I send it?

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The Pope is a very busy man, but most likely someone on his staff will read your letter.

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Would the Pope be able to de-canonize a saint if he had a good reason?

Community Answer

No, the Pope could not de-canonize a saint.

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What is the chance that my spouse and I can get our wedding rings blessed when we visit the Vatican?

Community Answer

If you're looking for a personal blessing, not good. But if you can time your visit so it’s on a day when the Pope is having a mass, he’ll bless everyone/ thing in the crowd (including the rings).

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Can I have the full email address? Because I tried to sent an email and it didn't work.

Community Answer

You can’t send an email. You have to send a letter to his address, which is listed in an answer above.

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Why do you have to refer to the pope as His Holiness?

Community Answer

It's like referring to a king as "Your Majesty". The Pope is considered very holy, so his proper title is "Your Holiness". It's a title of respect.

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How do I request ex-communication from the Pope?

Community Answer

If you wish to leave the Roman Catholic Church then you need to send an apostasis letter to your priest or bishop.They will amend the records so you are no longer listed as a member. Ex-communication is not something one requests, but what the Church does to unfaithful members. Apostasis is when YOU leave the Church.

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Do I have to be a member of a church to baptize a child?

Community Answer

Yes. In order to baptize someone, you must have been baptized yourself.

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Will the pope answer questions posed in a letter?

Community Answer

Most responses are not written by His Holiness himself. One of his monsignors will usually reply, and they don't usually answer questions. I would ask your parish priest instead.

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Question

How do I kneel towards the Pope?

Community Answer

When you genuflect to the Pope, make sure your right knee is bent to the floor and your left knee is pointing outwards. The sign of the cross is not required, unlike when genuflecting to the Eucharist.

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When writing to Pope, should a letter handwritten or can you the it typed?

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You could do either, but handwritten is more personal and heartfelt. Make sure your handwriting is legible.

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Can I send a letter to the Pope in Arabic? And how could I get the answer?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

The Pope uses a Correspondence Office in the Vatican. They sort out all letters, first by language so they can assign it to someone who reads that language. Those staff members generally answer the letters, too, just so you are aware. Address the envelope to: His Holiness Pope Francis 00120 Vatican City

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Why are priests giving the Holy Communion in the hand?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

That was started after Vatican II, when the church made other changes in the way churches were/are now run. The changes were intended to bring the people closer to Christ. Some changes included: Priests facing the congregation during Mass; less or no use of Latin in Mass; removal of Christ as hanging on the cross (instead emphasizing His Resurrection); removing barriers in the Confessional; and, allowing people to choose whether to receive Communion on the tongue or in the person's palm. The hand method does reduce the spread of germs; it is more hygienic.

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How does an atheist address the pope, the word "holy" would not be appropriate.

CageyCat

Top Answerer

His address is: His Holiness Pope Francis 00120 Vatican City Every leader of every organization has a title. "His Holiness" is merely a title. You could try "Most Reverend" and it would likely be okay, but the proper title is "His Holiness".

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Can a Jewish girl write to the Pope?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

Yes, anyone of any faith can write to the Pope. Do so by paper letter, using postage and address it to: His Holiness Pope Francis 00120 Vatican City

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Can I send an email to the Pope?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

His Holiness Pope Francis does not use a public email address. The only way to send him a message is by a letter using the traditional paper and envelope mail. Address it to: His Holiness Pope Francis 00120 Vatican City The pope receives many thousands of letters every day. A correspondence office sorts his mail by language (English, Italian, French, etc.), by concern or need, and then each is answered by "the office staff", unless the concern requires the Pope's directions for a response.

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