Restorer's Unauthorized Portrait of Italian PM Meloni on Church Fresco Sparks Outcry, Prompting Removal

A quiet chapel in central Rome became the unlikely center of a political and artistic storm this week after it was revealed that a restored fresco featured an angel bearing the face of Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

The incident, at the Chapel of the Holy Souls of Purgatory within the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina, came to public attention over the weekend. Social media posts comparing 'before and after' restoration photos showed the original cherubic face had been replaced with a likeness unmistakably similar to the conservative leader. The restoration work had been completed late last year by volunteer restorer Bruno Valentinetti.

Initially, Valentinetti denied the resemblance, claiming he had faithfully reproduced original drawings. However, he later admitted to La Repubblica newspaper that it was indeed meant to be Meloni, while insisting the depiction was in keeping with the original artwork's spirit. Following an investigation ordered by Italy's Ministry of Culture, Valentinetti was instructed to remove the portrait. The result is now a ghostly, smudged patch on the angel's body. "I covered it up because the Vatican told me to," he stated.

The Ministry of Culture clarified the regulatory breach in a statement Wednesday. Any restoration in Rome's churches requires pre-approval with detailed sketches from multiple authorities, including the Ministry of the Interior's Fund for Places of Worship—a process that was not followed. "In light of the removal... the Special Superintendent of Rome has informed the rector... that any restoration work requires a request for authorization," the ministry noted.

The parish priest, Father Daniele Micheletti, reported hundreds of visitors flocking to see the controversial image before its removal. He framed the decision as one of unity. "I've always said that if it had created divisions, I would have had it removed," he told Sky Italia. "From a regulatory standpoint, the painting could have remained there for a hundred years, but it has created too many divisions in the church." The Vatican has not issued any public comment on the matter.

Analysis: This episode touches on sensitive intersections of art, politics, and religion in Italy. The unauthorized insertion of a contemporary political figure into sacred art is seen by many as a breach of ecclesiastical and cultural protocol, trivializing a historic site. It also reflects the deeply polarized political climate, where even a church fresco can become a partisan symbol. The swift official response underscores the strict governance over Italy's vast cultural heritage, intended to shield it from personal or political appropriation.

Marco Bianchi, Art Historian (Florence): "This is a profound failure of restoration ethics. Our heritage is not a canvas for personal statements or political homage. The protocols exist precisely to prevent such arbitrary alterations, which damage both the artwork's integrity and public trust."

Elena Conti, Local Parishioner (Rome): "I found it strangely beautiful initially—a modern touch in an ancient space. But I understand why it had to go. A place of prayer should be free from the divisions of our daily politics."

Luigi Ferrara, Political Commentator (Milan): "It's either a staggering act of sycophancy or a very clumsy attempt at satire. Either way, it's symptomatic of a culture where the line between political power and public institutions—including cultural and religious ones—becomes dangerously blurred. The fact that it was done secretly speaks volumes."

Sophie Reinhardt, Tourist from Berlin: "I came to see it after the news broke. It's amusing, but also a little shocking. You don't expect to see the face of a sitting leader on a 17th-century angel. It feels disrespectful to the history of the place."