The document, dated 29 June 2026 and signed by all the members of the Conference — from its president, Erik Varden O.C.S.O., Territorial Prelate of Trondheim, to Cardinal Anders Arborelius O.C.D., Bishop of Stockholm — deals with a question which the bishops themselves say has been a source of “uncertainty, speculation and diverging opinions” for “many years, if not decades”.
The Nordic misunderstanding
To understand the letter, one must first understand the context. In the Scandinavian countries, the dominant form of Freemasonry follows the so-called Swedish Rite which, unlike the Latin obediences, often openly secularist, requires its members to profess the Christian faith. Over time, this peculiarity gave rise to the view that Nordic Freemasonry was “somehow distinct” and that membership might therefore be permitted for Catholics in the five countries. The misunderstanding was also reinforced by the fact that the 1983 Code of Canon Law, in canon 1374, no longer explicitly mentions Freemasonry, unlike canon 2335 of the Pio-Benedictine Code, which imposed latae sententiae excommunication on those who enrolled.
The bishops say that this supposition has caused “disquiet, indeed a degree of uproar” in the local Churches, where many of the faithful come from countries in which the ban is well established. Scandinavian Catholic communities, which are minorities, are in fact made up largely of immigrants.
The consultation with the Dicastery
In order to settle the matter, the Conference met with the superiors and officials of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith during the plenary assembly held in Rome from 1 to 5 September 2025. On the basis of the response received, the bishops set out two principles.
First: there is no exception, particular norm or dispensation distinguishing membership of Freemasonry in the Nordic countries from the provisions of the Church’s universal law. Second: the norms issued by the Apostolic See apply in full, in particular the Note of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of 13 November 2023 — approved by Pope Francis in response to a question from the Philippines — which reaffirmed the validity of the Declaration on Masonic Associations of 26 November 1983, signed by the then prefect Joseph Ratzinger. That text stated that Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations “are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion”.
The pastoral provisions
The letter sets out four concrete pastoral provisions: a Catholic who is a Freemason must be encouraged to give up his membership; he must abstain from Holy Communion and is prohibited from receiving the other sacraments; a Freemason who seeks baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church must first end his membership of the lodge; no parish, institute of consecrated life or Catholic institution may enter into agreements of collaboration with Masonic lodges, nor make use of their properties.
The bishops make clear that the Church’s firmness “is not a negative judgement on the good will or good works of individuals”, but springs from the awareness that “the theological and philosophical principles of Freemasonry are incompatible with a full confession of Catholic faith”. Parish priests are asked to apply the provisions with “patience, pastoral care and kind attention”.
A criterion of Christian authenticity
The conclusion of the letter places the issue where it belongs: on the level of discipleship. Christ’s call, “Come, follow me”, presupposes “readiness to leave behind other attachments that stand in the way of wholehearted discipleship”. It is not, then, a condemnation of persons, but a reminder of the coherence demanded by the faith professed.
