Feb 4, 2026, 3:58 p.mFeb 4, 2026, 3:58 p.m
After days of controversy, the face of Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been painted over on a picture of an angel in one of Rome’s oldest churches.
Bruno Valentinetti, who is said to be responsible for the angel’s face in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, told the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” that he himself had covered the face with paint on instructions from the Vatican. The rest of the angel therefore remained unchanged.
The angel face before it was painted over.Image: AP
The fresco in a side chapel of the church, which previously received little attention, has become a magnet for visitors since the matter became known. There has been heated discussion about the angel in Italy since the weekend. Since a restoration, he has had the facial features of the right-wing head of government, and in his hand he holds a scroll with the outline of Italy.
The painting is in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina.Image: AP
case preoccupied the Pope
Father Daniele Micheletti confirmed the removal of the face. “I always said that we would do it if it was divisive. Furthermore, there were crowds of people who came to see it, not to attend mass or pray. “That was simply not possible,” the Ansa news agency quoted him as saying. The diocese had previously stated that a decision would be made “at the highest level”. All churches in Rome are under the control of Pope Leo XIV.
The case not only concerned the Pope, who is also Bishop of Rome, but also brought the Italian monument authority into action. This was intended to clarify whether there was permission for the unauthorized modification by an amateur restorer. The aim was also to find out what the angel’s face looked like before the restoration.
The original image should now be restored
For days, restorer Valentinetti denied that the face was identical to Meloni’s. “La Repubblica” he now said: “Well, it was Meloni, but based on the painting that was there before.” According to the daily newspaper, the original image should now be restored. (sda/dpa)