The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth bearing the image of a crucified man and is one of the most studied and venerated relics in Christianity. It is preserved in Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and has been associated by many Christians with the burial shroud of Jesus Christ.
The image on the cloth displays wounds consistent with the Gospel accounts of Christ’s Passion, including marks corresponding to scourging, crucifixion, and a pierced side. Throughout history, the Shroud has inspired devotion, prayer, and scientific investigation. While the Church permits veneration of the Shroud as a devotional object, it does not require Catholics to believe that it is the actual burial cloth of Jesus.
For believers, the Shroud serves as a powerful reminder of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Whether viewed as an authentic relic or as a sacred icon of the Passion, it directs attention to the mystery of God’s redeeming love revealed through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 27:59–60
Joseph of Arimathea wraps the body of Jesus in a clean linen cloth and places Him in the tomb.
Mark 15:46
Jesus is buried in a linen shroud.
Luke 23:53
The body of Christ is wrapped in linen before burial.
John 19:38–40
Jesus is prepared for burial according to Jewish customs.
John 20:6–7
The burial cloths are found in the empty tomb after the Resurrection.
Illustration by: Colton Rompala