ROME: An artist who restored a fresco in a church in central Rome with a likeness of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has wiped out his own artwork after it sparked outrage.

The story began on Saturday when La Repubblica daily revealed that the face of a freshly-restored winged figure in the San Lorenzo in Lucina church closely resembled Meloni.

Meloni herself left a bemused comment on Instagram next to her supposed likeness, saying: “No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel.” The artist behind the restoration, Bruno Valentinetti, told La Repubblica that he had rubbed out her face on Tuesday night following a request by the Vatican administration.

The Vatican did not immediately confirm this claim — but a reporter confirmed the likeness had been removed. The restorer also told the paper that he had indeed painted the figure to resemble Meloni after initially denying it.

“Well, it really was Meloni but in the same style of the fresco that was there before,” he told La Repubblica.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2026