News from Italy
The Angel with Meloni’s Face: Coincidence or Message?
In the heart of Rome, inside the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a restoration project has turned into a national controversy, going far beyond a simple artistic matter.
One of the angels depicted in a restored fresco appears to bear facial features strikingly similar to those of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The resemblance, amplified by social media and news outlets, immediately sparked debate over the boundary between restoration and the insertion of contemporary political figures into a sacred setting.
According to La Repubblica, the face recalls “one of the most powerful women in the country, present every day in the news.” The images circulating online have made it impossible to dismiss the issue as mere imagination.
Italy’s Minister of Cultural Heritage and the Diocese of Rome have launched investigations following reports that an angel in a historic Roman church may have been restored with the likeness of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
A Past Linked to the Political Right
Corriere della Sera reported that Valentinetti may have had past ties to right-wing political circles, having once run for office in Rome’s Municipio I with La Destra – Fiamma Tricolore. The artisan denies this, but the report raises the question: is this truly just restoration, or a gesture loaded with meaning?
Cardinal Reina’s Warning: “It Cannot Be Exploited”
Rome’s vicar cardinal, Baldo Reina, announced the immediate opening of an investigation and stated firmly:
“Sacred art and Christian tradition cannot become objects of improper use or exploitation.”
Many interpreted his words as a sign that the Church does not view the episode as a simple coincidence.
Valentinetti Denies, but the Resemblance Remains
Valentinetti rejects the accusations:
“You are making this up. I only redid what was already there.”
Yet even Bishop Daniele Micheletti, who oversees the basilica, admitted to ANSA that “a certain resemblance” does exist.
The Opposition Demands Clarifications
Parties such as the Democratic Party, the Five Star Movement, and the Green–Left Alliance have urged the Ministry of Culture to initiate official inspections.
As before-and-after photos spread across social media, Meloni herself intervened, seemingly with irony. On Instagram, she posted a picture of the restored angel, adding:
“No, I don’t really look like an angel,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
Now, the Special Superintendency of Rome’s Capital will determine whether the restoration was carried out properly or whether it crossed a sensitive line.
Coincidence or Message?
That an angel in a Roman church ends up resembling the most powerful political figure in the country — and that the author of the intervention has been associated with the right — makes it difficult to reduce everything to a mere aesthetic detail.
The question remains open:
was it truly a simple restoration, or a contemporary message carved into sacred art?