Shroud of Turin to go on public display in 2015

Turin (Italy), Dec 9 (IANS/AKI) The famous "Shroud of Turin", which many believe to be Jesus Christ's burial cloth, will go on public display in 2015, an official said.

Archbishop of Turin Cesare Nosiglia said Pope Francis has been invited to visit the shroud, which bears the facial image of a man thought to have suffered physical trauma similar to crucifixion.

The precise dates the shroud will be on public view have not been fixed but it will be for 40-45 days near Easter. Over two million pilgrims are expected to visit.

In April 2010, more than 1.5 million people booked reservations to gaze at the linen cloth for around three minutes when the first public viewing in a decade opened at Turin's cathedral.

Controversy has surrounded the 4.3 metre-long and one metre wide cloth which many Christians believe Jesus Christ was wrapped in after his death and his face was imprinted on it.

But sceptics cite carbon dating results to say that the shroud was in fact from the Middle Ages, about 1,300 years after Christ lived.

The cloth is housed in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin.

Prior to 2010, it last went on public display in 2000 during the Catholic Church's millennium celebrations.

--IANS/AKI

pm/bg