Roman diocese removes Meloni-like angel

“Well, it was good Meloni”. Initially, the sacristan Bruno Valentinetti (80 years old) denied any political intention in the restoration of the fresco of the basilica San Lorenzo in Lucina, in Rome. The restored Winged Victory nevertheless presented features close to those of the Italian Prime Minister. The artist claimed to have simply restored the state of the work as it was 25 years earlier, ensuring that these characteristics already existed. Bruno Valentinetti finally admitted to being inspired by Giorgia Meloni.

This admission immediately shone the spotlight on his career. The sexton is a former activist of the radical right. He was a candidate in Rome in 2008 on a joint list of the neofascist movement La Destra – Fiamma Tricolore. He would also have participated in the decoration of the Macherio villa, near Milan, former residence of Silvio Berlusconi (1936-2023).

Initially, the parish priest of the San Lorenzo basilica defended the fresco. He believed that there was nothing problematic in Bruno Valentinetti representing the Prime Minister in the guise of an angel in a chapel dedicated to “souls in purgatory”. But the cardinal vicar of the Roman diocese, Baldassare Reina, a close ally of Pope Leo XIV, was firm.

After speaking with the diocese, the priest said the fresco would be changed. The artist did this during the night, covering the face of the angel with a layer of neutral paint. When the church reopened its doors on Wednesday morning, the angel appeared faceless, his head roughly obscured by a flat area of ​​light color.