Church and government officials in Italy have launched an investigation into claims that the face of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was painted on an angel during the restoration of a fresco in Rome.


Italy's culture ministry has sent officers to inspect the artwork in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, while the Diocese of Rome expressed its disappointment and said it would determine who had been responsible.


The artist, Bruno Valentinetti, stated that he had merely restored the fresco he painted in 2000 and denied modeling the angel after the prime minister.


Meloni responded humorously on Instagram, saying she was definitely not like an angel, accompanied by a laughing emoji.


The apparent likeness was first reported on Saturday by Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which showcased before-and-after pictures of the fresco, claiming that the angel holding a map of Italy had previously looked like a generic cherub.


The parish priest noted that the paintings had merely been touched up due to water damage but mentioned he did not understand the fuss surrounding the issue.


Valentinetti, 83, stands firm that the restored face aligns with his original artistic vision, insisting, Who says it resembles Meloni?


Opposition parties quickly called for an investigation, expressing concern about the use of art as a propaganda tool, regardless of whether it depicted Meloni.


Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has tasked technical officials with inspecting the painting to ascertain the nature of the intervention made during restoration.


The Diocese of Rome stated it was aware of the restoration but had received assurances that no changes would be made to the artwork.


Moving forward, Cardinal Baldo Reina, the Pope's Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, plans to investigate the incident further to determine potential responsibilities of the individuals involved.


The cardinal distanced himself from prior comments by Monsignor Micheletti and emphasized the church’s commitment to protecting its artistic and spiritual heritage from exploitation.