The original version of a fresco inside Rome’s San Lorenzo in Lucina church may soon be restored, following days of controversy over an angel figure that many believe was altered to resemble Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a restoration carried out in 2025.

Italy’s Superintendency has launched archival checks to recover photographic and project documentation of the artwork as it appeared when it was first completed in 2000. Because the church is a protected heritage site, this step is required to compare the original fresco with its current appearance and determine whether unauthorized changes were made before any corrective action can be taken.

The case has sparked internal tensions within Rome’s ecclesiastical leadership, particularly involving Monsignor Daniele Micheletti, who oversees the church. In recent hours, however, Micheletti has expressed full willingness to cooperate in modifying the artwork if necessary.

The debate has also drawn political attention, with figures from both government and opposition weighing in. Most recently, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli authorized the formal investigation by the Superintendency, allowing the comparison process to proceed.

In the meantime, San Lorenzo in Lucina - located in the heart of Rome - has been crowded with visitors eager to photograph what has been dubbed the city’s most controversial angel. That media frenzy may soon fade, as the fresco appears increasingly likely to return to its original face.