The Pope
The Pope is the supreme head on earth of the Roman Catholic Church.
He is also head of state of the Vatican City, a sovereign city-state that forms an enclave within the city of Rome. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the 'Holy See'.
The current, 265th, Pope is Benedict XVI, who was elected on 19 April 2005.
How to Address The Pope
The recommended style of address is as follows:
| Beginning of letter | Your Holiness/Most Holy Father |
| End of letter (for Roman Catholics) | I have the honour to be, Your Holiness's most devoted and obedient child |
| (For non-Roman Catholics) | I have the honour to be, Your Holiness's obedient servant |
| Envelope | His Holiness The Pope |
| Verbal communication | Your Holiness |
Invitations
An invitation to The Pope should be addressed to His Holiness's Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.?
