Italian Street Artist Satirizes Far-Right Figures at Pope’s Funeral Through Provocative Artwork
Title: Satirical Mural Near Vatican Critiques Conservative Funeral Guests of Pope Francis
A provocative new street art mural near the Vatican has ignited discussion and debate around the world for its biting satire and political commentary. Created by the anonymous Italian street artist Laika MCMLIV, the piece titled “The Guests” (2025) questions the presence of several high-profile right-wing figures at the recent funeral service for the late Pope Francis. Reflecting the late pontiff’s progressive legacy, the mural takes a sharp jab at the compatibility of his values with the ideologies espoused by his funeral attendees.
The Mural: A Heavenly Interrogation
Positioned in a busy public location near the Vatican, the mural portrays Pope Francis with a halo above his head, looking down from heaven, puzzled as he reads a guest list. The list includes names such as former U.S. President Donald Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian right-wing politicians Matteo Salvini and Matteo Piantedosi.
Above the artwork, a handwritten quote reads: “But who invited them?” — capturing the artist’s critical tone and echoing public questions about political hypocrisy and performative mourning from figures whose views stood in stark contrast with those of the late pontiff.
Laika MCMLIV: Art with a Political Pulse
Laika MCMLIV is known for using street art as a tool of activism, targeting political figures and institutions with bold, relatable murals often layered in irony and dark humor. In “The Guests,” she chides the incongruity of leaders known for hardline stances on immigration and militarization paying respects to a religious leader who championed compassion, humility, and social justice.
On her Instagram account, Laika described those funeral attendees as bringing a “parade of hypocrisy” to Pope Francis’s memorial. The mural is intended not just to call out those showing up at the funeral but to remind viewers of the late pope’s firm positions on global humanitarian crises.
A Legacy at Odds with Conservatism
Known as “the People’s Pope,” Francis spoke openly and frequently in favor of immigrant rights, environmental protection, social equity, and economic justice. His tenure was often marked by tension with global conservative leaders:
– He openly criticized Donald Trump for building a wall to block asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, questioning the morality of isolationist nationalism.
– Francis’s relationship with President Milei of Argentina was particularly tense. Milei had previously described the pope—his fellow countryman—as “the representation of evil on Earth.” Despite a reportedly cordial Vatican meeting in 2024, Francis never returned to Argentina, highlighting lingering discomfort with its current political climate.
– Ursula von der Leyen’s support for European military rearmament and her administration’s immigration deportation policies also placed her in ideological opposition to the pope.
– Matteo Salvini and Matteo Piantedosi — Italian officials known for supporting restrictive immigration laws like the controversial Cutro Decree — represent a domestic political faction that frequently found itself at odds with the Vatican’s humanitarian advocacy.
Symbolic Burial, Symbolic Protest
One poignant aspect that makes the mural’s timing particularly powerful is Pope Francis’s chosen place of burial: an intentionally undecorated tomb in Esquilino, a modest Roman neighborhood with a significant immigrant population. This final act reaffirmed the Vatican leader’s rejection of elitism and reinforced his solidarity with marginalized communities — making the presence of hard-right mourners all the more contradictory.
Laika summed up the mural’s message in a bold statement: “I think that Francesco, if he could, would have gladly crossed those names off his ‘guest list.’” Her words reflect a widely held sentiment that the pope’s funeral, meant to honor a lifetime of compassionate advocacy, was co-opted by some politicians for image-building purposes.
Art as Political Memory
As Vatican visitors pause to view “The Guests,” Laika’s mural invites them to consider not just who came to mourn but what those figures represent, and whether their actions truly honored Pope Francis’s legacy. In a time when art and politics are increasingly interwoven, “The Guests” is a powerful assertion that remembrance should be aligned with truth and values — not appearances.
Street art has always served as a mirror to society’s conscience, and Laika continues that tradition with one of her boldest works yet. In just a few figures and a stinging quote, she has stirred a global conversation about authenticity, legacy, and the power of visual protest.