The controversy concerns a fresco in the Chapel of the Holy Souls in Purgatory inside the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina, where restoration works were completed in December. In recent days, side by side images circulating online comparing the restored angel with the prime minister have prompted widespread attention and political debate.
Culture ministry orders inquiry
Italy’s culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, ordered an investigation to determine whether the restorer intentionally altered the angel’s features to resemble the head of government.
The Ministry of Culture instructed the Rome Superintendency, which oversees the capital’s archaeological and historic heritage, to examine archival material relating to the original artwork.
In a statement, the office of Daniela Porro, head of the Special Superintendency of Rome, said the inquiry aims to locate photographs, project drawings or documentation from the original 2000 decoration in order to compare it with the version produced during the 2025 restoration.
Porro later clarified that the fresco is a contemporary work dating back to 2000 and is not classified as a protected cultural asset. As such, modifications are not prohibited, but any changes should have been agreed with the relevant authorities. The investigation remains ongoing.
Restorer denies deliberate alteration
The restorer, Bruno Valentinetti, has rejected claims that the angel was altered to resemble the prime minister, telling Italian media that he faithfully reproduced the original design. He added that he carried out the restoration voluntarily and without payment.
Prime Minister Meloni addressed the issue briefly on social media over the weekend, posting that she “definitely” does not look like an angel, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
Church response and internal review
The Diocese of Rome has acknowledged the issue and said it is reviewing the matter internally. In a statement, chapel vicar Cardinal Baldo Reina said the modification of the cherub’s face was not communicated to the competent authorities.
He added that sacred imagery should not be misused or exploited and confirmed that the Vicariate is examining the circumstances together with the parish priest, Monsignor Daniele Micheletti.
Micheletti confirmed the resemblance but dismissed the controversy, telling La Repubblica that painters have historically inserted contemporary faces into religious art and arguing that the reaction had been disproportionate.
Public attention grows
The dispute has drawn large numbers of visitors to the chapel, informally dubbed the “Meloni Chapel” on social media, as people gather to judge the resemblance for themselves. Opposition figures have also weighed in, noting the historical significance of the basilica, one of the oldest churches in Rome.
For now, the investigation will determine whether the restoration breached procedural rules, even if no legal protections apply to the artwork itself.
Source: CNN