Maupal's Pope Francis Mural in Rome Sparks Controversy and Political Response

On October 18, 2016, street artist Maupal (Mauro Pallotta) illegally painted a mural of Pope Francis playing tic-tac-toe in Rome's Borgo district. The work was removed by AMA, the municipal waste company, due to its religious content, as per contract. Nine days later, Rome's culture councilor Luca Bergamo and Mayor Virginia Raggi invited Maupal to the Campidoglio, expressing regret over the removal and offering to display a reproduction in the city hall. The incident highlights tensions between street art, municipal regulations, and political opportunism. Maupal's previous Pope mural, 'Super Pope,' was also removed, boosting his visibility and sales. The new mural promoted a documentary on Pope Francis airing on Rai 3. Bergamo called the mural 'tender' and criticized the removal as excessive zeal. The artist's newsletter announced that Raggi confirmed no cancellation order came from the city and launched an internal investigation. The event has been criticized as a publicity stunt and a misuse of cultural policy.