Exhibit 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 Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company for the  fiscal  year ended
     December  31,  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: March 11, 2004

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