The Grand Orient of Italy (GOI), the largest Masonic Obedience in Italy, is facing a phase of serious difficulty. Just weeks before the Grand Lodge that will take place in Rimini at the beginning of April, heated discussions are anticipated on some crucial points on the agenda. Among these, in execution of decree no. 495/SB and the subsequent resolution of the Council on December 24, 2024, stand out:

• The definitive revocation of all relations with the ritual body known as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite;
• The adoption of any further consequential measures;
• The revocation and annulment of the electoral process for the serious irregularities that have emerged;
• The immediate calling of new elections to restore serenity within the Communion.

It is clear that the eventual ratification of the definitive revocation of all relations with the so-called Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite would further isolate the Grand Orient of Italy from the international ritual bodies where the RSAA represents if not coincides with the world Masonic Obediences.

These decisions, intended to resolve the internal crisis, risk further aggravating the existing tensions and underscore the need for a clear and definitive action to restore the legitimacy of the past elections and the stability of the institution.

In this context, any attempt at reconciliation must necessarily pass through the recognition of Leo Taroni as the legitimate winner of the elections for the position of Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Italy. Indeed, Taroni is the only person capable of mending the internal and external relations that have deteriorated over time with the current leadership of the Ship.

Another aspect not to be underestimated is that currently, the Ship is in a standstill caused by measures issued by the Court of Rome.

In fact, the GOI is in a transition phase following the order of the Court of Rome, which suspended the validity of the proclamation of the new Grand Master and the installation of the Council. This precautionary provision, aimed at ensuring compliance with internal and state regulations, has generated considerable interest both inside and outside the Masonic institution.

The Court of Rome, more specifically, accepted the appeal presented by dissident members of the GOI and, consequently, suspended, ex articles 23, 3rd paragraph of the civil code and 669 octies of the civil procedure code, the effectiveness of the following resolutions:

A) Resolutions adopted by the CEN that establish the criteria for the annulment of the ballots cast and the attribution of the electoral figure for the lists involved in the electoral consultation for the election of the Grand Master of the GOI for the term 2024-2029; B) The act of proclamation of the new Grand Master, Antonio Seminario, adopted by Grand Master Stefano Bisi on April 6, 2024. This also includes the decree of installation of Antonio Seminario as Grand Master and the Grand Dignitaries Sandro Cosmai, Giuseppe Trumbatore, Sergio Monticone, Raffaele Sechi, Marco Vignoni, Andrea Mazzotta, and Grand Secretary Emanuele Melani, issued between April 6 and April 9, 2024.

One of the central issues raised by the Court concerns the validity of the vote cast by the voters. None of the constitutive and regulatory provisions of the GOI stipulate that the failure to remove the anti-fraud sticker affixed to the ballot can be considered grounds for invalidating the vote cast. The indications contained in interpretative circulars, which have no legal value, cannot be used to justify such invalidation.

In any case, the error consisted of placing the ballot in the box without removing the anti-fraud sticker, a task that belonged to the electoral office and not the voter. This element highlighted how the validity of the vote cannot depend on errors made by supervisory bodies.

Regarding the precautionary requirement, the Court of Rome noted the existence of serious reasons to temporarily deprive the adopted resolutions of efficacy. Considering the numerous irregularities that have emerged, the principle of legality and the correctness of the electoral process must prevail over the need to maintain a transitional associative management.

Now, with Decree No. 506/SB, Bisi has declared the need to revoke and annul the previous elections due to the “flaws and irregularities” found. A position that clashes with the decision of the Court of Rome. Yes, you read that right: irregularities. And it is not a nosy journalist or an internal opponent declaring this, but the leader of the Grand Orient of Italy himself.

This act, which may seem like a commendable demonstration of transparency, however, raises a series of uncomfortable questions. If the elections were marred by flaws severe enough to invalidate them, why has no initiative been taken in other appropriate venues? Why did the Grand Master limit himself to revoking them without further investigation or penalizing those responsible?