Aprigliano International Law Firm’s landmark Bologna ruling has been featured in Il Pensiero (“The Thought”), one of the longest-running Italian American publications in the United States, in continuous print since 1904. The May 2026 issue highlights the decision as a significant development for Italian Americans pursuing citizenship by descent under the post-Tajani Decree framework. 

The coverage marks one of the first times a post-reform jure sanguinis court ruling has received dedicated attention in the Italian American press, a reflection of the decision’s broader relevance for the community. 

What is Il Pensiero? 

Founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904, Il Pensiero , “The Thought”, has served the Italian American community for over 120 years, making it one of the most enduring ethnic publications in the country. Its readership spans Italian American families across the United States, many of whom are directly affected by changes to Italian citizenship law. 

The Bologna Ruling: what happened 

On April 17, 2026, Judge Dott.ssa Natascia Gardini of the Tribunale Ordinario di Bologna issued Ruling No. 3335/26, recognizing Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) for a family of 11 applicants – spanning second, third, and fourth generations – in a case brought by Aprigliano International Law Firm. 

The case was filed on May 17, 2025, after Law 74/2025 (the so-called Tajani De

cree) had already entered into force. Crucially, the family had not secured a consular appointment before the March 27, 2025 reform deadline. 

Why this decision matters 

Since the passage of Law 74/2025, one of the most pressing questions for Italian American families has been whether those who never obtained a pre-reform consular appointment could still pursue citizenship recognition through the Italian courts. 

The Bologna ruling offers one of the first post-reform answers from the bench: yes, under the right circumstances. 

Central to the Court’s reasoning was the standard of intent. Judge Gardini found that the family’s application clearly and unequivocally demonstrated their intention to obtain Italian citizenship — satisfying the requirements of the applicable post-reform legal framework — even in the absence of a consular appointment secured before the deadline. 

“The Court accepted the argument that citizenship recognition remained warranted where applicants had clearly manifested their intention to proceed with their claim, but had been unable to secure a consular appointment through no fault of their own.” 

The ruling also references Decree-Law 36/25 and the Constitutional Court’s press release of March 12, 2026, signaling that Italian judges are actively integrating the evolving constitutional landscape into their post-reform decisions.

A multi-generation grant 

The family of 11 included second, third, and fourth-generation descendants – making this one of the broader multi-generation post-reform citizenship grants documented to date, and a meaningful data point for families who assumed the reform had closed the door on their claims. 

Looking ahead 

The Italian Constitutional Court is expected to hold hearings on further pending referrals regarding Law 74/2025, including those originating from the courts of Mantova and Campobasso. Those decisions are widely anticipated as further defining moments for the post-reform jure sanguinis landscape. 

For families who filed after the Tajani Decree reform and are waiting to see how the post-reform citizenship landscape develops, the Bologna ruling is a reminder that the courts continue to evaluate each case on its individual merits. 

It should be noted that this ruling is not binding for other ongoing cases and does not change the risk profile of anyone filing now. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Can I still apply for Italian citizenship by descent if I didn’t have a consular appointment before March 27, 2025? 

A: The Bologna ruling suggests that, under the right circumstances, it may still be possible to pursue recognition through the Italian courts even without a pre-reform consular appointment. The Court found that a clearly demonstrated intention to apply can satisfy the requirements of the post-reform legal framework. Each case is evaluated on its individual merits. 

Q: What is the Tajani Decree (Law 74/2025)? 

A: Law 74/2025, commonly referred to as the Tajani Decree, is an Italian reform that entered into force on March 27, 2025. It introduced significant changes to the process for obtaining Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), including requirements related to consular appointments and new procedural standards for applicants. 

Q: What generations were covered by the Bologna ruling? 

A: The ruling recognized Italian citizenship for a family of 11 applicants spanning second, third, and fourth generations of descent, making it one of the broader multi-generation post-reform grants documented to date. 

Q: Does the Bologna ruling set a legal precedent for my case? 

A: The ruling is not binding for other ongoing cases and does not change the risk profile of anyone filing now. However, it is one of the first post-reform decisions to address the question of intent and consular appointments, and it is being closely watched by legal practitioners in the field. 

Q: What is “Il Pensiero” and why does its coverage matter? 

A: Il Pensiero (“The Thought”) is one of the longest-running Italian American publications in the United States, founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. Its coverage of the Bologna ruling reflects the decision’s significance for the broader Italian American community, many of whom are directly affected by post-reform citizenship law. 

Q: What is jure sanguinis? 

A: Jure sanguinis (“by right of blood”) is the legal principle by which Italian citizenship can be claimed through descent from an Italian ancestor, regardless of where the applicant was born. It is the basis on which thousands of Italian Americans have sought Italian citizenship recognition. 

Q: What happens next in the Italian courts regarding Law 74/2025? 

A: The Italian Constitutional Court is expected to hold hearings on further pending referrals regarding Law 74/2025, including those originating from the courts of Mantova and Campobasso. These decisions are anticipated to further define the post-reform jure sanguinis landscape and will take place on June 9. 

About Aprigliano International Law Firm 

Aprigliano International Law Firm is a Milan-based practice specializing exclusively in Italian citizenship by descent for American clients. The Bologna ruling was developed and argued by Attorney Salvatore Aprigliano.