/ ˈhəʊlinəs; NAmE ˈhoʊ-/ noun
1.
[ U ] the quality of being holy
2.
His / Your Holiness [ C ] a title of respect used when talking to or about the Pope and some other religious leaders :
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hālignes (see holy , -ness ).