Rome's nude cover-up remains mystery
At a press conference in Italy, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani addressed the controversy over two nude statues covered in boxes.
The recent meeting between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pope Francis at the Vatican was a historic moment. It was the first time an Iranian president, a Muslim and Shiite cleric, had met with the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics in 16 years. However, the meeting was overshadowed online and by journalists more concerned with a set of nude statues covered with boxes during Rouhani's meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the Capitoline Museums in Rome.
According to Italy’s ANSA news agency, “The move was apparently made as a gesture for Iranian culture.” The news agency reported also that wine was not served at the ceremonies.
Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini denied that he or Renzi made the decision to cover the statues.
At a press conference Jan. 27 before leaving for France, Rouhani also denied being involved in the decision to cover the statues.
