Item 32.1 Section 1350 Certifications












                        CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT
                        --------------------------------


     I,  Aldo  C.  Zucaro,   the  Chief   Executive   Officer  of  Old  Republic
International  Corporation (the "Company"),  certify, pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)  the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly  period
     ended March 31, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of
     Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
     78m or 78o(d)); and

(2)  the  information  contained in the Report  fairly  presents  the  financial
     condition and results of operations of the Company.



Dated:   May 7, 2004



                                                   /s/ Aldo C. Zucaro
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Aldo C. Zucaro
                                                   Chairman and Chief
                                                   Executive Officer