Khaberni - An image of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was erased from the face of a mural in a church in central Rome, by order of the head of the diocese, following a political and religious controversy.
A restoration process had portrayed a drawing on one of the faces, in a mural depicting "two angels" in the St. Lawrence Church in Lucina, near the government headquarters, closely matching the face of the right-wing politician Meloni (aged 49), who is the first female Prime Minister of Italy.
The left-leaning newspaper "La Repubblica" spotted the image last Saturday, which sparked outrage among opposition figures and displeasure from Cardinal Baldo Reina, the Procurator General of the Pope for the Diocese of Rome.
When the church opened its doors yesterday, Wednesday, the angel depicted in the mural was faceless, after the face was covered with paint.
The priest of the church, Daniele Michelleti, told the Italian news agency (ANSA), "I always said that if Meloni's image caused division, we would remove it." He added, "There was a group of people who came to see it, instead of listening to the mass or praying. That was not acceptable."
"La Repubblica" relayed yesterday, Wednesday, from the amateur artist Bruno Valentiniti, who restored the painting, that the Vatican had asked him to erase the image.
A Vatican spokesperson refused to comment. The Diocese of Rome said it would issue a statement later.
