The heavenly doppelganger is said to have appeared in the Chapel of the Holy Souls in the purgatory of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina – right in the heart of Rome. Since the completion of the restoration work in December, the fresco has caused ridicule, memes and a debate that oscillates somewhere between art history and political satire.

Comparative pictures of the angel and the head of government are circulating on social networks. The message: Either the restorer was very inspired – or very political.

, the Italian Ministry of Culture takes the whole thing without any humor. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli ordered a formal investigation to determine whether the restorer deliberately gave the angel new facial features – and whether they are coincidental or deliberately reminiscent of the prime minister.

The Roman monument preservation department was commissioned to sift through old archive material: photos, sketches or project documents from the year 2000 are intended to clarify what the fresco originally looked like and how big the difference to the 2025 version actually is.

The head of Rome's special supervisory authority, Daniela Porro, soberly stated: The fresco is a contemporary work from the year 2000 and is not a listed building. Changes would therefore be allowed in principle – but would at least have had to be coordinated. The investigations are ongoing. The angel remains under observation for the time being.

The restorer himself, Bruno Valentinetti, resolutely rejects any political intention. He asserts that he has reproduced the original work exactly. No trace of Meloni inspiration.

In addition, he notes that he carried out the restoration voluntarily and without a fee – a detail that is commendable, but does not exactly calm the Engel debate.

The prime minister herself took the matter much more relaxed than some critics. On social media, she dryly stated that she "definitely doesn't look like an angel" - including a laughing emoji. Politically, this is more likely to benefit than harm her: free attention, this time with a halo.

The Diocese of Rome also intervened. Cardinal Baldo Reina explained that the alleged change in the angel's face had not been reported to the ecclesiastical authorities. Sacred art, he warned, should not be instrumentalized for other purposes – whether political or media.

The pastor in charge, Monsignor Daniele Micheletti, on the other hand, was more relaxed. Yes, a certain similarity is recognizable, he admitted. At the same time, he recalled that artists have been incorporating contemporary faces into religious representations for centuries. The current excitement is therefore - to put it kindly - somewhat oversized.

Regardless of the investigation, the angel has already won: The chapel is experiencing an unexpected rush of visitors. In social media, it is now half-ironically referred to as the "Meloni Chapel". Believers, tourists and curious people make a pilgrimage to see for themselves – the fresco, not the government.

Opposition voices meanwhile urge seriousness and point to the historical significance of the basilica. Whether the angel has political traits or not, the authorities want to clarify whether formal rules were disregarded during the restoration.

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Author: Tom Weyermann
Source: BBC / Heavenly Media Service