Shroud of Turin to be digitally showcased

By CathNews New Zealand

March 25th, 2025

Pope Francis touches the case holding the Shroud of Turin after praying before the cloth in 2015 at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

The Shroud of Turin will be digitally showcased during the Holy Year 2025, allowing visitors to engage with the revered relic like never before. Source: Catholic News Service.

While there will be no physical exposition of the shroud in 2025, the Archdiocese of Turin unveiled plans on March 15 for a multimedia initiative featuring a full-scale digital version of the cloth to offer the faithful a new way to explore its image and mystery.

“In this Jubilee Year, we have sought a new approach to the shroud, focusing on new digital technologies,” said Cardinal Roberto Repole of Turin.

“That cloth, the shroud, is an invitation to live life with hope, because it is also the imprint of the Resurrection – of someone who is no longer in death,” the cardinal said, connecting the shroud to the Jubilee theme of hope.

Visitors can experience the “Tent of the Shroud” in Turin’s main square, Piazza Castello, from April 28-May 5, where the life-sized digital replica will be displayed on an interactive table. The installation allows viewers to illuminate and explore key details of the cloth, such as the face, the crown of thorns and the marks of crucifixion. The digital replica of the shroud will be made available online after its exhibition in Turin.

The tent will also host a photographic exhibit titled “Faces in the Face” – a collection of portraits and images that explore the face of Christ as reflected in the Shroud of Turin and in the faces of people both throughout history and in present day. Daily talks on faith, youth and hope also will be offered in the tent.

A major goal of the initiative, organisers said, is to engage young people in the mystery and message of the shroud.

The shroud is housed in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Turin and, due to its fragile condition, is only occasionally displayed to the public during special events. The last time the shroud was on display was in 2015.

While its authenticity remains a topic of scientific debate, the shroud holds deep devotional significance to many Catholics and has inspired pilgrimages and extensive research.

FULL STORY

Shroud of Turin to be digitally showcased during Holy Year (By Justin McLellan/CNS)