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Monsignori History
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Becoming a Monsignor in the Roman Catholic Church
Backgrounder on the Papal Honor Bearing the Title “Monsignor”
By Benedict T. Nguyen, M.T.S., J.C.L. Chancellor, Diocese of La Crosse
The title of “Monsignor” is a title of distinction given by the Pope to certain priests in the Roman Catholic Church as part of a papal honor recognizing the priest’s service to the Church. The diocesan bishop nominates candidates for the honor and submits the names, biographies, etc., to the Holy See. The Holy Father then, if he wishes, confers the honor onto the priest. Once decided by the Pope, the Vatican Secretariat of State issues a diploma designating the new title and rank and recognizing the newly-made monsignor’s service to the Church.
Historically, the monsignorate dates from the 14th century when the papal court operated for a period of time in Avignon, France. At that time, bishops were referred to as “mon seigneur,” French for “my lord.” Priests who worked in the papal curia, the administrative and judicial offices of the pope, were also referred to as “monsignor” and were allowed to wear some of the regalia of a bishop.
Today, there are generally three grades of papal honors that bear the title “Monsignor” – the Protonotary Apostolic, the Prelates of Honor to His Holiness, and the Chaplains to His Holiness. Priests who are monsignors of one rank may be elevated from one rank to another at the will of the Pope.
The Protonotary Apostolic is conferred predominantly on priests who serve on seven specific positions in the Roman Curia. These are referred to as Protonotaries of Number. Aside from these seven, the honor of Protonotary Apostolic can also be conferred on priests outside of the Roman Curia. These are called Protonotaries Apostolic Supernumerary. A Protonotary Apostolic wears a black cassock with red buttons and piping along with a fuchsia sash. A fuchsia cape can also be worn on special occasions.
The second grade of monsignor is the Prelate of Honor to His Holiness. This grade was historically associated with the chamberlain of the papal court and today can also be conferred to priests outside of the papal court. A Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, during liturgies, wears a bishop’s choir cassock, which is fuchsia in color with red buttons, piping and cuffs, and a fuchsia sash. Prelates of Honor to His Holiness may also wear a bishop’s black cassock, which also has red buttons, piping and a fuchsia sash.
The third grade of monsignor is the Chaplain to His Holiness. This honor can be conferred to priests inside or outside of the Roman Curia. A Chaplain to His Holiness wears a black cassock with fuchsia piping and buttons along with a fuchsia sash.
Priests who are given papal honors and thus named monsignors are considered to be members of the papal household and thus are listed in the Annuario Pontificio (the papal yearbook). In 1969, the custom of Chaplains of His Holiness (a subset of the second grade of monsignor) surrendering the title upon the death and burial of the conferring pontiff was suppressed. Today, all monsignors retain their titles upon the death and burial of a Pope.
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Monsignor Jose Palomo
On December 11, 1859, Very Reverend Jose Torres Palomo or “Padre Palomo” completed his studies in San Carlos Seminary in Cebu. He was ordained Guam’s first Chamorro Priest, in 1869 at the private chapel of the Bishop of Cebu, the Most Rev. Romaldo Jimeno. In 1909, St. Pius X named Padre Palomo the first Guam priest to hold the title of Papal Chamberlain, with the title of Very Rev. Monsignor, on the occasion of the his Golden Jubilee in the priesthood. This honor was conferred in recognition of the superhuman effort he made to preserve the faith in the island at the beginning of the century. On July 3, 1919, Monsignor Jose Torres Palomo suffered a massive heart attack and died. |
Monsignor Oscar Lujan Calvo
 Oscar L. Calvo was born on August 2, 1915 in Agafia, the son of Ramon Perez Calvo and the former Isabel Pangelinan Lujan. Calvo was the oldest of thirteen siblings. In 1928, at the age of thirteen years, Calvo departed for Manila to enter the San Jose Seminary. Finishing his studies in 1941, he was ordained a priest on April 5, 1941 at the hands of Bishop Miguel Angel Olano, OFM Cap, the third Chamorro priest in history and the second one ordained in the Agana Cathedral. From then on, he was to be known as “Pale’ Scot,” after the Chamorro pronunciation of the name “Oscar.” In 1947, in recognition of his heroic services to the church during and after the war, Pope Pius XII, at the request of Bishop Baumgartner, elevated Fr. Calvo to the rank of Monsignor by awarding him the title of Honorary Papal Chamberlain. Calvo was the second priest of Guam to be made a Private Chamberlin to His Holiness. His eyesight, which was eventually to deteriorate to near total blindness in later years, was beginning to become a problem. Given permission to retire, Msgr. Calvo took up residence with his siblings in Agana Heights. On July 28, 2000, Msgr. Calvo died at Guam Memorial Hospital, just five days shy of his 85th birthday. |
Monsignor Felixberto C. Flores
 Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores was born on January 13, 1921. He is the son of Leon Flores, a native of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, P.I. who was among the political exiles sent to Guam after the Spanish-American War, and Ana Martinez Camacho of Agana. He was ordained by the Most Rev. Apollinaris Baumgartner on the morning of April 30, 1949 at the Agana Cathedral. A few days before the tenth anniversary of his ordination, on April 19, 1959, he was elevated to the rank of papal chamberlain by John XXIII. On August 10, 1963, Pope Paul VI named him a domestic prelate, the first Domestic Prelate among the diocesan clergy of Guam. Father Flores, at the time, was also among the first audience to be received by the new pontiff, who was crowned in June, 1963. On May 17, 1970, Most Rev. Felixberto Camacho Flores was consecrated Bishop. On May 20, 1984, Most Rev. Felixberto C. Flores is elevated as the First Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana. The Diocese of Agana is elevated to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana, with suffragan Sees: the Diocese of Caroline and Marshall Islands and the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa (subsequently added on January 13, 1985). He died in on October 25, 1985 in San Francisco, California. |
Monsignor Jose A. Leon Guerrero
 Very Reverend Jose A. Leon Guerrero was born on November 15, 1925 in Saipan. He is the son of Vicente D. Leon Guerrero and Guadalupe A. Leon Guerrero. He studied at the Guam Institute, George Washington High School, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He was ordained on June 15, 1955 in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Saipan, by the late Bishop Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, OFMCap. He has been pastor, vice-chancellor, vicar-general, and held many offices like chairman of the Catholic Charities, etc. The Chaplain of his Holiness title was conferred on him by Pope Paul on August 13, 1963. Msgr. Jose A. Leon Guerrero was raised from a Chaplain of His Holiness to an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. |
Monsignor Zoilo L.G. Camacho
 Very Reverend Zoilo L.G. Camacho was born November 6, 1910 in Agana. He is the son of Enrique M. Camacho and Emeteria Leon Guerrero Camacho. He was educated at George Washington High School, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He was ordained on May 1, 1954 in the Agana Cathedral by the late Bishop Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, OFMCap. He was appointed Vicar-General in April of 1974. He has held other offices like penitentiary chaplain and chairman, parole board, GovGuam. The title of Honorary Prelate was given to Very Rev. Zoilo Camacho.
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Monsignor Tomas A. Camacho
Bishop Tomas A. Camacho was born on September 18, 1933 in Saipan, to Vidal Palacios Camacho and Maria Aguon Camacho. He studied in the Saipan Public School, Fr. Duenas Memorial Seminary, and St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, California. He was ordained on June 14, 1961 in the Agana Cathedral by Bishop Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, OFMCap. He has been an instructor, a pastor, and was appointed rector and pastor of the Agana Cathedral in April of 1974. He was the director of vocations, diocesan consultant, and chairman, Chamorro Language Commission. Bishop Thomas currently presides as the Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, Sapian. |
Monsignor Vicente T. Martinez
 Very Reverend Vicente T. Martinez was born on March 16, 1932, the son of Pedro Martinez, and Mrs. Maria Torres Martinez. He studied at Nieves Flores’ Private School, public school in Agana, St. Joseph’s College in Mountain View, California, Fr. Duenas Memorial School, and St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He was ordained on April 26, 1958 in the Agana Cathedral by Bishop Apollinaris W. Baumgartner OFM Cap. He was named assistant pastor and later became pastor of the Agana Cathedral. He held a number of offices among them board member of the Catholic Medical Center of the Marianas and committee member of the Bicentennial Commission of the American Revolution.
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