For years, Beppe Grillo, a Genoa-born satirist now in his mid-70s, tangled with Italian political power and its most infamous cast of characters. The founder of the Five Star Movement (M5E), a platform that upended the traditional right–left dynamic in Italy, rose to lead the party with the most votes in the country. Now he talks about becoming the founder of a non-existent religion, a project he says is a new spiritual movement called the Church of the Beyond. Its symbol is an A shaped like a transmission antenna, a striking image meant to symbolize connection and transmission of ideas beyond conventional boundaries.
Asked by a journalist from The Times about the new project, Grillo suggested the reaction might view him as a provocateur, much as the M5E was once seen. In his view, in a world of multiverses, even God deserves an update. He described the faith as open source, though he did not detail the reasons behind that choice.
In a subsequent remark made during an event in Orvieto, in the Umbria region, Grillo outlined plans for the Church of the Beyond that would include exorcisms and rituals. His aim is to have this new faith registered on the official list of religions recognized by the Italian state. As part of that effort, he launched a website that spreads a foundational law and forwards his claimed spiritual aspirations, calling himself Ascended.
no answer
Grillo insisted, without ambiguity, that he is serious about the project. He argued that traditional constructs of God, capitalism, and money do not satisfy humanity’s needs. Science, technology, and established religions, in his view, do not provide satisfying answers, and he noted a wave of new religious movements emerging in the United States and beyond. This led him to ask why a personal religion could not exist in today’s world.
The idea reportedly took shape last December, and since then Grillo, whose provocations have influenced figures such as Steve Bannon and Nigel Farage, has revisited the concept in a theatrical show premiered recently. The show, titled “I’m the Worst. Revelations,” recounts anecdotes from his political career and includes remarks about fellow political actors. Some observers even speculated that the show could double as a Church event, a playful ruse to draw attention and generate conversation around his activities.
The trajectory of the party he founded fourteen years earlier did not ignite intense public debate or widespread fanfare in the same way. Some insiders noted that many wondered what Grillo truly sought. He was once among Italy’s most influential politicians, but his appeal has waned over the past decade, according to sources close to the movement whose current leader is Giuseppe Conte, the former prime minister.
son’s case
Conte himself visited the current show staged by Grillo, but did not offer much beyond a cautious stance. When asked about the Church of the Hereafter, Conte, aligned with Grillo’s political allies, said he would not join. He identified as Catholic and earned a durable but evolving base of support, with polls placing him around a modest share of public backing at the time of reporting.
Grillo’s family has been in the spotlight as well. His son, now known as Ciro, faced serious accusations regarding an alleged incident in July 2019. Grillo publicly defended his family, arguing that the case was being used for political purposes and played out in the media. Amid the public discourse, Grillo continued to receive attention for his unconventional approach to politics and culture, enjoying surprisingly strong public reception on certain occasions despite the controversy surrounding his son’s case.
In response to ongoing interest, Grillo released an eight-page guide outlining the rules of his new religion. Journalists later reported that the document suggested the ultimate goal was to have the Italian state recognize the faith to access public funds set aside for religious entities. The piece emphasized the broader aim of positioning the Church of the Beyond as a recognized religious institution within the Italian system, a move that would carry financial and social implications for supporters and detractors alike.