Item 32 Section 1350 Certifications
                                                                    Exhibit 32.2




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


     I,  John S. Adams,   the  Chief    Financial    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 June 30, 2003  (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:   August 8, 2003


                                            /s/ John S. Adams
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John s. Adams
                                            Chief Financial Officer



(A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to Old Republic  International  Corporation and will be retained by Old
Republic International  Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.)