His Holiness is the official style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In the Catholic Church (including the Eastern Catholic Churches) the style is used when referring to the Pope. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is used for the Pope of Alexandria. It is also used in reference to some other patriarchs in the Christian Orthodox Church. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is also addressed in the same manner in English, as are other Buddhist leaders such as Sakya Trizin, the Patriarch of Sakyapa.
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Usage
In Catholicism, the style derives from the Latin Sanctitas. It was originally used for all bishops, but from the 7th century on, it was only used for Popes, Patriarchs and some secular rulers, and from the 14th century on its use has been restricted to the Pope. In the Dawoodi Bohra sect, a sect of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, the title is held by Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. The title is used officially in international diplomacy and in formal contexts without regard for its doctrinal, philosophical and theological origins.
See also
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| Reigning monarchs | Apostolic Majesty (HAM) • His Holiness (HH) • Imperial and Royal Majesty (HI&RM) • Imperial Majesty (HIM) • Majesty (HM) • Catholic Majesty (HCM) • Most Christian Majesty (HCM) • Most Faithful Majesty (HFM) • Royal Highness (HRH) • Highness (HH) • Serene Highness (HSH) |  of the Austrian Empire |
| Members of sovereign and noble families |
Imperial and Royal Highness (HI&RH) • Imperial Highness (HIH) • Royal Highness (HRH) • Grand Ducal Highness (HGDH) • Highness (HH) • Ducal Serene Highness (HDSH) • Serene Highness (HSH) • Illustrious Highness (HIll.H) | |
