NWS Holy Shroud 2010 ENPUB

The religious concept of "miraculous image" has been applied to the Shroud of Turin, as to other religious images such as the Holy Face at Manopello, Italy, which has been suggested to be the Veil of Veronica, or the famous image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the image appeared miracously on the cloak of Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City on December 12, 1531.

The religious beliefs and practices associated with the shroud predate historical and scientific discussions and have continued in the 21st century, although the Catholic Church has not formally claimed its authenticity as Jesus' burial shroud. But many Popes considered the Shroud relic a misterious image very relevant for the faith of believers.

Pope John Paul II showed himself to be deeply moved by the image of the Shroud he had the opportunity to venerate in 1980, and Pope Benedict XVI in June 2008 has approved the public display of the Shroud in Spring of 2010 and he will go to Turin for a visit on next May 2nd.