Even in the face of severe changes in the rules for recognizing Italian citizenship, the Brazilian ambassador to Rome, Renato Mosca de Souza, remains silent. The decree-law approved at the end of March and the project that is advancing in the Italian Senate threaten the rights of millions of Brazilians of Italian descent — but so far, no official position has been presented by the embassy.
Mosca de Souza is of Italian descent. He represents, symbolically and politically, a community estimated at 30 million Brazilians with Italian origins. Even so, he chose not to comment on the restrictions proposed by Decree-Law 36/2025 and Bill S.1450, which impose new criteria for the transmission of citizenship by blood (jure sanguinis).
The new rules limit the recognition of Italian citizenship to children and grandchildren of Italians born in Italy. If the applicant's father or mother was not born in the country, it will be necessary to prove that this parent lived legally in Italy for at least two years before the birth of the child. This requirement reinforces the idea of a mandatory territorial bond, even when the family bond is direct.
The bill currently being processed in the Senate expands these restrictions and, in practice, excludes descendants from the fourth generation onwards from citizenship. In other words, great-grandchildren and their children will now have their rights denied — a profound break in the relationship between Italy and its diaspora.
Legal experts argue that the decree contravenes the principle of non-retroactivity of laws — it is unconstitutional. This is because it attempts to impose requirements on people who, under previous legislation, were born with the right to citizenship. Applying the new rules to past cases would therefore be legally inappropriate.
In the face of such a delicate scenario, the silence of Brazilian diplomacy is striking. For part of the community, the lack of a clear response from the ambassador is an attempt to avoid friction with the Italian government. For others, it is an omission in the face of an issue that mobilizes thousands of Brazilians.
This week, in an interview with the Italian website Diplomatic Gazette, Mosca spoke about his personal connection to Italy. “I often think about the difficult life of my grandfather, who left Italy at the age of ten with his brothers,” he said, recalling his family history. The text highlighted “the humanity and greatness” of the ambassador, who “does not hide his pride in representing Brazil precisely in the country of his ancestors and which, in a certain way, he now also feels is his own.”
Despite the affectionate tone and personal connection with the history of Italian immigration, Mosca did not mention, in the same interview, the changes in legislation or the impact they should have on Brazilian descendants.
Renato Mosca has already spoken out on the subject of citizenship on other occasions. In interview to The Journal of Vicenza, advocated simplifying the processes for Brazilian descendants. According to him, many young people have been waiting for years for a response. “Facilitating access would be beneficial for both countries,” he said.
On another occasion, to the newspaper The State of S. Paul, criticized proposals that make access to citizenship more difficult. He said that these are “visions disconnected from reality”, considering Italy’s need to welcome foreign workers in light of its aging population.
These statements, however, have not been repeated since the publication of the decree and the presentation of the new bill. At a time of profound change, silence weighs heavily.
For those waiting in line for citizenship, Brazil's lack of a position in Italy is more than uncomfortable — it is worrying.
Action is expected.
Article updated at 14:55 p.m. on 13/04/2025 for the record:
The Brazilian ambassador to Italy, Renato Mosca de Souza, spoke out this Sunday, April 13, in response to the post made on the Italianismo portal's Facebook page about decree-law nº 36.
The full text of the ambassador's statement:
Read the new article: Citizenship decree: ambassador says he is in dialogue with Italian authorities
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