The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi and the Apostolic Episcopal Church have been informed that one Mauro Contili has claimed falsely that he has been elected bishop by the Prince-Abbot of San Luigi (The Most Revd. Edmond John Kersey de Polanie-Patrikios/Mar Joannes Edmundus) in his capacity as Primate of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. The false claim has been published on his website here and reads (in translation) “he was ordained Anglican Canon by the Primate Archbishop Mar Joannes Edmundus and always as Bishop-elect Vicar General for Italy.”

Mauro Contili has never met Archbishop Kersey and Archbishop Kersey has never ordained or consecrated him, nor has he elected him bishop. It is not possible to ordain a man to the offices of canon or provincial vicar-general, which are purely appointive offices.

Mauro Contili had previously been a priest in the Chiesa Cristiana Anglo Cattolica under Mgr. Damiano di Lernia, who had ordained him deacon and priest on 20 June 2016. In 2017, having previously left that church, and in consequence of a personal introduction by the then-representative of the Apostolic Episcopal Church in Italy, Mauro Contili was incardinated in his existing priestly orders into the Apostolic Episcopal Church and appointed Canon and Vicar-General of the Province of Italy, with faculties being issued to him on 17 June 2017. At no time was he elected bishop.

However, subsequent events made it quickly apparent that Contili did not in fact share in the aims and intended mission of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. As a result he was granted a full release from the Apostolic Episcopal Church and the Faculties issued to him were rescinded on 17 July 2017. At this time Archbishop Kersey also resigned as Spiritual Protector of the Università Anglo Cattolica San Paolo under Contili’s direction, and removed that university from affiliation with the Apostolic Episcopal Church. Since that time there has been no contact between Contili and our organization. The appointments in the Apostolic Episcopal Church to which he refers in his publications were held by him for less than one month and were removed for cause.