Italian American Leaders Strengthen Ties with Italy on Citizenship and Cultural Exchange

ROME, ITALY, September 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Italian American leaders have embarked on a mission to strengthen ties with Italy, focusing on dual citizenship, cultural exchange, and the involvement of younger generations. The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) led a delegation to Rome, where they met with key Italian officials to discuss these issues.

COPOMIAO, founded in New York City in 1975, is a national nonprofit coalition of 77 cultural, educational, fraternal, and anti-defamation groups. The organization’s delegation, headed by COPOMIAO President Hon. Basil M. Russo and U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, co-chair of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, held meetings with senior Italian officials to advocate for greater access to Italian dual citizenship and explore opportunities for younger Italian Americans.

During their visit, the delegation met with Lorenzo Fontana, president of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, who expressed enthusiasm for keeping descendants of Italian immigrants connected to their ancestral homeland. Fontana highlighted the contributions of Italian Americans to the United States and the community’s cultural significance.

The delegation also visited the Italian Senate, where they met with Sen. Mariastella Gelmini, who chairs the Italy-United States parliamentary friendship group, and Christian Di Sanzo, a member of the Chamber of Deputies representing Italian citizens in North and Central America. Di Sanzo expressed support for easing restrictions on citizenship by descent.

At the Italian Foreign Ministry, the group met with Silvia Limoncini, director general for services to citizens abroad and migration policies. COPOMIAO advocated for loosening dual citizenship restrictions and making visas easier to obtain, emphasizing the value of helping Italian Americans maintain meaningful ties to Italy. The group also raised concerns about Italy’s declining population and discussed potential solutions with Italian officials.

As a way to deepen ties between younger generations in both countries, the delegation invited Italian government officials to help bring young leaders from Italy into COPOMIAO’s successful Italian American Future Leaders program. The program aims to engage and support the next generation of Italian Americans, ensuring that their connection to Italy remains strong.

The delegation also met with the Supreme Court officials during their time in Rome. The discussions covered a range of topics, including the importance of maintaining cultural and familial connections between Italian Americans and Italy.

In a separate announcement, COPOMIAO detailed its meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, which focused on faith, culture, and advancing an emerging relationship with the Holy See. These meetings further strengthened COPOMIAO’s efforts to build lasting ties among Italian American organizations, the Italian government, and institutions in the United States.

The mission to Rome and Vatican City formed part of COPOMIAO’s broader September initiative to address dual citizenship, cultural exchange, and the involvement of younger generations. The organization’s goal is to cement the bond between Italian Americans and Italy, ensuring that it remains unbroken for future generations.