Left to right: Negative photo of the frontal image of the man of the shroud. A side view of the sculpture, “The Sign,” which depicts the man of the shroud. / Credit: Copyright 1978, Vernon Miller/Copyright Collection of Gilbert Lavoie
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 7, 2025 / 10:51 am (CNA).
TheShroudofTurinisoneofthemoststudiedandcontroversialreligiousartifactsintheworld.HousedintheCathedralofSt.JohntheBaptistinTurin,Italy,thelinenclothbearstheimageofamanwhoappearstohavesufferedphysicaltraumaconsistentwithcrucifixion.ManyChristiansbelieveittobetheburialshroudofJesusChrist.
WhiletheCatholicChurchhasneverformallydeclaredtheshroudtobeauthentic,ithasencourageditsvenerationasapowerfulaidtofaithandreflection.PopeFranciscalledtheshroudan“iconoftheLordJesuscrucified,dead,andrisen,”andSt.JohnPaulIIcalledit“amirroroftheGospel.”
Here’swhatweknowabouttheShroudofTurin,basedonrecentstudiesandcommentaryfromexperts,scientists,andCatholicthinkers.
Evidencesuggestingauthenticity Theshrouddepictsthefrontandbackofaman’sbody,showingwounds
