A recently restored fresco depicts an angel with a face very similar to that of italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome, Italy, on January 31, 2026. The winged figure is seen holding a parchment and standing next to a bust of Italy's last king, Umberto II, who reigned for just a month before being deposed in 1946. The restoration of the wall dedicated to king Umberto II in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, where one of the angels flanking the bust of the King of Italy has now taken on the facial features of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, or at any rate has become very similar to the prime minister, is causing a stir. These days the church is undergoing some restoration work. The volunteer artist behind the restoration, denied in the press that he intended to depict Giorgia Meloni, insisting that he had simply restored the original fresco to its original state. But, after several opposition politicians complained, Italy's culture minister said he had ordered an inspection of the fresco before 'deciding what to do next'. The restoration was carried out by the same artist who created the original painting, Bruno Valentinetti. He disputed the suggestion he had altered the image, telling reporters: 'I restored what was there before... 25 years ago'. Meloni herself appeared amused by the controversy, posting an image of the restored fresco on Instagram with the comment: "No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel." with a laughing emoji. Photo by Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo: Vandeville Eric/ABACA/ABACA

Freska s likom Meloni

VANDEVILLE ERIC/ABACA
4.2.2026., 22:18
VEĆINI SE NIJE SVIDIO

Anđeo Meloni uklonjen sa zida crkve u Rimu

Freska s likom talijanske premijerke ostala je bez glave, a nalazila se na zidu crkve. Brisanje je naredio župnik

Freska anđela, restaurirana s licem talijanske premijerke Giorgie Meloni, izbrisana je sa zida crkve u središtu Rima po naredbi župnika nakon negodovanja političara i klera. Jedan od dva anđela u rimskoj bazilici svetog Lovre, blizu sjedišta vlade, izmijenjen je kako bi izgledao gotovo identično kao 49-godišnja desničarska čelnica zemlje, prva talijanska premijerka u povijesti. Kada je crkva u srijedu otvorena, lice koje sliči Meloninu je prebrisano, a anđeo je ostao bez glave.

- Uvijek sam govorio da ćemo je, ako (slika Meloni) bude izazivala podjele, ukloniti - kazao je župnik Daniele Micheletti. "Cijela procesija ljudi došla je gledati nju umjesto da sluša misu ili da se moli. To nije bilo prihvatljivo." Amaterski slikar koji je restaurirao fresku, Bruno Valentinetti, rekao je kako je Vatikan od njega zatražio da je prebriše. Glasnogovornik Vatikana odbio je komentirati, a Rimska biskupija kazala je da će poslije objaviti priopćenje.

Talijansko ministarstvo kulture također je najavilo istragu, a Meloni je incident ismijala. Objavila je fotografiju sporne freske na društvenoj platformi Instagram uz tekst: “Ne, definitivno ne izgledam poput anđela” i dodala smješka. Restaurirana freska nastala je 2000. i ne spada u zaštićenu baštinu.