The "Meloni Miracle": Restoration Controversy Rock's Rome
A restoration project in Rome’s San Lorenzo in Lucina basilica has sparked a political firestorm after a newly revealed fresco was found to bear a resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The controversy centers on the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, near the Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Italian government. Following months of work in the church’s Chapel of the Crucifix, scaffolding was removed to unveil a restored wall dedicated to King Umberto II. Among the religious iconography, one figure stood out immediately: a blonde-haired, blue-eyed cherub that critics and supporters alike claim is the spitting image of the Premier.
The reveal left church officials and visitors stunned. While the artwork was intended to revive faded 20th-century decorations, the resulting cherub features facial contours, expressions, and a hairstyle that mirror Meloni’s public image with striking precision.
Monsignor Daniele Micheletti, the rector of the basilica, expressed bewilderment. "We were surprised," he told reporters, insisting the church had no prior knowledge of the angel’s final appearance. "We did not see the work until the scaffolding came down."
The restorer insisted his work was faithful to history. "I restored what was there 25 years ago," he claimed. "I followed the old sketches and made no changes."
However, art historians and political opponents are skeptical. The level of detail and the specific resemblance have led many to question whether the restorer took artistic liberties to flatter the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Meloni herself addressed the controversy with characteristic irony. Taking to Instagram, she posted a close-up photo of the cherub with a caption that sought to defuse the tension: "No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel."
Main Image: Courtesy IG page Prime Minister Georgia Meloni