Rome church fresco altered after angel's face resembles Giorgia Meloni

A fresco in Rome's San Lorenzo in Lucina church has sparked controversy after an angel's face, said to resemble Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was painted over. The artwork, part of a 2000 restoration in the Capella del Crocifisso, was altered following orders from the Vatican. The decision came after public debate over the depiction, with church authorities insisting sacred art should not be tied to political figures. The original fresco, created by restorer Bruno Valentinetti, decorated a previously bare chapel. It featured two cherubs—one wearing a Savoy crown, the other holding a map of Italy—leaning over a marble bust of King Umberto II of Savoy. Above them hung the Savoy coat of arms. The face in question belonged to one of the angels. After complaints, Valentinetti covered it the night after the controversy erupted. He later stated he had no issue with the removal. Cardinal Baldo Reina condemned the inclusion of Meloni's likeness, stressing that sacred art must not be misused or exploited. He announced an investigation into those responsible for the decision. Restoration teams will now attempt to recover the original 2000 design. Rome's Special Superintendency has begun searching archives for photographs or sketches of the chapel's initial artwork to guide the process. The fresco's alteration marks a swift response to concerns over political imagery in religious spaces. Authorities will rely on archival records to restore the chapel to its intended appearance. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.