Prelates and Freemasons Meet in Milan

The dialogue between the Church and Freemasonry must “move forward,” perhaps by establishing a “permanent” roundtable. This is what emerges from a colloquium which gathered many prelates and Masons of high rank at Milan’s Ambrosiana on February 16, 2024.

“The Catholic Church and Freemasonry.” Such is the title given to the roundtable organized on February 16, 2024, at the headquarters of the Ambrosiana cultural foundation of Milan (Italy). Around the Archbishop of the Lombard city, Archbishop Mario Delpini, different Masonic Obediences were assembled: the Grand Orient of Italy (GOI), the Grand Lodge of Italy of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (GLDI-ALAM), and the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy (GLR).

It’s important to add Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, renowned jurist, former President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; as well as Fr. Zbigniew Suchecki, Franciscan theologian; and Bishop Antonio Staglianò, President of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, who had slid his pectoral cross into the pocket of his jacket for the occasion.

The objective of the conference, held behind closed doors, was precisely the dialogue to be revived in line with the famous article written in 2016 by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, titled “Dear Brother Masons.”

A call for reconciliation with Freemasonry had created such a stir at the Vatican that Pope Francis himself had to reaffirm the incompatability between the Church and Freemasonic doctrines a few months later. But no matter: chase the Devil out the door, he comes back through by the window.

Thus, according to several reports, Cardinal Coccopalmiero--former Auxiliary Bishop of Milan at the time of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini (1927-2012)--stated that we wondered “if it isn’t possible to think of a permanent discussion, so that we could deal with each other better.” The high prelate was also delighted by what he deemed to be an “evolution in mutual understanding.”

Stefano Bisi, who represented the Grand Orient, recalled “the open-mindedness” of Cardinal Ravasi, all the while lamenting the pace--too slow for his taste--of the “reconciliation” between the Church and Masons, touching on in passing the attitude of Pope Francis, considered not liberal enough, in this matter at least.

On the side of Archbishop Delpini, we perceive a certain uneasiness: the Archbishop of the largest diocese in Europe arrived at the meeting 45 minutes late, which says a lot about his positions, emphasizing in one of his statements that the goal of this meeting was not to “give absolution” to Freemasonry.

This is a somewhat dissonant position compared to the sentiments of Bishop Staglianò: the progressive President of the Pontifical Academy of Theology preferred to leave aside the doctrinal aspect and favor the pastoral dimension in order to forge bonds with the Masons. “Who am I to judge that the human condition cannot be touched by the mercy that God makes rain upon the just and the unjust,” the prelate asked, taking up the Pope’s tone.

Let us recall that since the Papal Bull In Eminenti, promulgated by Pope Clement XII in 1738, which excommunicated Freemasons for the first time, the Church has very many times risen against Freemasonry on account of the indifferentism and naturalism upon which it is founded, and also because of the secrecy that surrounds it.

These condemnations were again reiterated after the Second Vatican Council, in 1983 as well as particularly in November 2023.