Did Leo XIV Appoint a Freemason to the Vatican?
The online footprint of Umberto Longo repeatedly places that name - and, in later cases, an identifiable Professor Longo - within the institutional environment of Italian Freemasonry and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The examples span a decade.
2013 - Scottish Rite, Lazio: The Masonic publication LOGOS identifies a certain “Fr. Oratore Umberto Longo 4°” as an officer of the Loggia di Perfezione Maestri Segreti “Giano” in Rome.
The publication introduces a series of texts under the heading: “Le Tavole del Fr. Oratore Umberto Longo 4°.” The abbreviation Fr. is used throughout for Fratello - “Brother” - while the number identifies the Scottish Rite degree. More importantly, the issue contains the official 2013 officers of the Loggia di Perfezione Maestri Segreti “Giano” all'Oriente di Roma. Among them appears: “Fr. Oratore Umberto Longo 4°.” He is listed alongside the Treasurer, Secretary, Expert, Master of Ceremonies and other officers.
2013 - Grande Oriente d'Italia: Its publication Erasmo Notizie records an Umberto Longo among the Maestri Venerabili attending a first-degree Masonic meeting at the Casa Massonica Romana in Piazzale degli Archivi. It then lists the Maestri Venerabili present and includes the name Umberto Longo. A Maestro Venerabile, or Worshipful Master, is the presiding officer of a Craft lodge.
2014 - Scottish Rite: The trail continues with the author “Fr. Umberto Longo 9°” in the publication LOGOS, suggesting progression from the 4th to the 9th degree. He wrote on “The Dynamic Path of Perfection of the Scottish Knights: Tradition and Rituality, Regeneration and Universality,” examining the history and aims of the Scottish Rite, its initiatory rituals and traditions, and the process of individual regeneration and spiritual development associated with them.
2014: The website of the Grande Oriente d'Italia announced that a certain Umberto Longo would speak at an event organized by the Lazio Regional Inspectorate on “The dynamic path of perfection of the Scottish Knights: tradition and rituality, regeneration and universality.”
2019 - Grande Oriente d'Italia: Prof Umberto Longo of the Sapienza University appeared as a historian at the Rome conference Dio e Popolo. Repubblica romana. 170 anni di amore, organized in the Grande Oriente d'Italia environment by Lodge Dio e Popolo No. 786. The surviving video provides a visual record of the speaker.
2022 - Scottish Rite-connected Venice conference: Professor Umberto Longo of Sapienza University of Rome delivered the principal lecture on Hugo Pratt and the “initiatory universe” of Corto Maltese. He discussed Maltese as undertaking an initiatory journey that intersects with alchemy, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, Kabbalah, and Sufism. The conference concluded with remarks by Gian-Paolo Barbi, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (video).
So, did Leo XIV appoint a Freemason? There is strong documentary evidence that a Roman man named Umberto Longo occupied Masonic positions in 2013–2014. There is unquestionable evidence that Professor Umberto Longo subsequently participated in events (2019, 2022) connected to major Italian Masonic institutions.
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