Pope plans trip to Shroud of Turin as it goes on public display

The Shroud of Turin, the burial cloth some believe covered Jesus, will go back on public display next year.

Pope Francis said today he will go to the northern Italian city on June 21 to view the 14ft cloth which is kept in a climate-controlled case in Turin’s cathedral.

As during the last display in 2010, reservations are required for the April 19 to June 24 viewing but there is no charge.

Papal predecessor Benedict XVI has described the cloth as an icon “written with the blood” of a crucified man, but did not dive into scientific questions.

Sceptics say the linen bearing the figure of a crucified man is medieval forgery.

Turin Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia has called the shroud both “reality and deep mystery” to which science has not given “concrete answers”.