The Shroud of Turin is considered to be the most studied artifact in the world, and for good reason. It is believed by some to be the actual linen burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ after His Crucifixion, a practice common among the 1st-century Jewish people.
There has been such extensive interest in the Shroud that there is a name for the formal study of it: sindonology.
However, it is important to note that the Catholic Church has not taken an official position on the Shroud of Turin’s authenticity but recognizes its importance as an object of veneration and reflection. The church acknowledges the ongoing scientific investigation into the Shroud’s origins and properties, entrusting scientists with the task of finding satisfactory answers to questions surrounding it. Popes have consistently recognized the Shroud’s significance as a powerful image that points to the Passion and death of Jesus, inviting believers to deeper contemplation and conversion.
The original shroud — kept in a state of careful preservation and not currently on display — has been in the formal possession of the Holy See since 1983. Its history prior to 1354 is not well-documented. Its name is derived from its longtime home in Turin, Italy, where it has been since 1578.
It was first photographed by Secondo Pia in 1898, an effort that first uncovered the startling face of a man whose features are consistent with traditional depictions of Jesus of Nazareth.