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Meloni Jokes About Fresco Portraying Her as an Angel. Italian authorities opened an inquiry after a restored fresco in a Roman basilica appeared to depict Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as an angel or as Nike, the winged figure from Greek mythology. The artwork is located in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a church historically linked to Rome’s right-wing political milieu. The restoration was carried out by the same painter who created the original decorative scheme around 20 years ago, but the retouched facial features triggered immediate public debate. Opposition politicians demanded an investigation, prompting inspections by Italy’s Culture Ministry over the weekend to clarify whether formal approval had been requested for the changes. Officials are verifying whether original sketches or images from the 2000 decorations exist, noting that the basilica falls under the ownership of the Interior Ministry. Meloni moved quickly to defuse the controversy, sharing an image of the fresco on Instagram and joking: “No, I’m definitely not like an angel.” The local diocese sought to distance itself from the political row, warning against turning religious art into a political tool and urging respect for sacred imagery. Basilica pastor Monsignor Daniele Micheletti downplayed the uproar, framing the depiction as artistic freedom and pointing out that even Caravaggio used provocative models in religious art.
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