Meloni’s face found on angel in Rome chapel after restoration

A restored fresco in a small chapel of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in downtown Rome has drawn attention because an angel’s face resembles Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, a likeness first noted in a front‑page report by La Repubblica last Saturday. The chapel’s restoration had been completed last year, just before Christmas.

The chapel had been little visited for years. Around 1985 it was allotted to a group of monarchists that installed a bust of Umberto II and a commemorative plaque, and around 2000 the space was frescoed with scenes linked to the royal family and two angels flanking the bust. Water infiltration later severely damaged the chapel, prompting the recent restoration.

The report set off protests and debate. An opposition lawmaker, Irene Manzi, called the touch‑up “unacceptable,” saying it violated laws meant to safeguard cultural heritage. Italy’s culture ministry said it would look into the matter, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Rome diocese’s second‑ranking official, pledged to “verify the possible responsibilities of the parties involved,” adding that images of sacred art “cannot be misused or exploited.” Ms.

Meloni posted on Instagram, “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel,” and memes and jokes spread online.

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