Today at 12.30 p.m. it took place in the Aula Giovanni
Paolo II of the Press Room of the Holy Seat, a press conference to show
the Shroud Exhibition in 2015 (April 19th - June 24th)della Sala Stampa della
Santa Sede, una conferenza stampa per presentare l’ostensione della Sindone
2015 (19 aprile - 24 giugno), the initiatives for the celebration of the 200th
anniversary of the birth of St. John Bosco and the visit of Pope Francis in
Turin, announced this morning during the Public Audience.
H.E. Mons. Cesare Nosiglia, Archbishop of Turin, Pontifical Custodian of the
Shroud; On. Piero Fassino, Major of Turin; Mrs. Elide Tisi, Vice-Major
of Torino; Dr. Marco Bonatti, Director of the Communication of the Exhibithion
Committee 2015 were present.
Here there is the intervention of H.E. Mons. Cesare Nosiglia:
Intervention of H.E. Mons. Cesare Nosiglia
Pope Francis’ announcement of his intention to visit Turin
in order to contemplate the Holy Shroud and to commemorate the birth of St.
John Bosco has set into motion plans for a series of three events to take
place in the city and its environs during 2015: the exhibition of the Holy
Shroud from 19 April to 24 June, the celebration of the 200th
anniversary of the birth of St. John Bosco, "Father and Teacher of youth", and
Pope Francis’ visit.
The exposition of the Holy Shroud in the Cathedral of Turin
will dedicate particular attention to themes of youth and physical and
spiritual suffering. The Exhibition, announced by and organized at the behest
of Pope Francis, is linked to the jubilee for the bicentenary of St. John
Bosco.
The Motto
The Papal Custodian of the Shroud, Archbishop Cesare
Nosiglia of Turin, has chosen the motto "the Greatest Love" from the Gospel of
John (15,13) to highlight the profound link between all aspects of love:
giving life also means responding, giving meaning to the vocation of humanity,
and God’s love is continually made manifest in the gift of Jesus Christ, unto
his death on the Cross and his resurrection.
The Logo
The official logo and symbol of the 2015 Holy Shroud
Exhibition reflects the theme of the event, "the Greatest Love" and displays
the Face of the Shroud. The logo was designed by the Armando Testa Agency, on
the basis of proposals and ideas developed by young students from Turin.
A group of students from the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts
and young people participating in the youth pastoral ministry of the diocese
were involved in research and offered graphic designs inspired by the motto.
A "focused" communication strategy has been developed to
distribute key information about the Holy Shroud Exhibition both in Italy and
abroad, also based on the theme of the motto and logo, and will be launched in
November. For the occasion, the graphic layout of the official website
www.sindone.org has been completely renewed. Visits may be booked at this
site.
Reservation
As in previous exhibitions, viewing the Holy Shroud is free
of charge, since it is a religious and ecclesial event. Thanks to the
support offered by various bodies who have covered the logistical and
organizational costs of the exhibition, admission to view the Holy Shroud is
free, but reservations are obligatory in order to enable the
throughput of pilgrims to be better coordinated and to avoid long waits to
access the Cathedral. Booking may be made exclusively via the official
website, RLINK"http://www.sindone.org" www.sindone.org.
Youth
The pilgrimage to the Holy Shroud will coincide with the
bicentenary celebrations of the birth of St. John Bosco birth
(http://www.donboscoitalia.it), which began in August 2014 and will continue
until 16 August 2015.
The youth congregation and pastoral ministry of the diocese
of Turin have launched a joint programme to welcome the young during Holy
Shroud Exhibition and in particular during the days of Pope Francis’ visit to
Turin. Several Italian dioceses have organized youth pilgrimages to the Holy
Shroud, to be combined with moments of prayer and opportunities to gather,
celebrate and reflect together.
The website www.turinforyoung.it provides all the
information for the youth pastoral and pilgrimage.
The sick
Welcome for the sick is a constant characteristic of the
exhibition, due to the clear link between the Shroud and the suffering of the
body, as well as to the "night of the spirit", anguish and solitude. In 2015
pilgrims suffering as a result of illness will receive special attention in
the liturgy, and time and pastoral initiatives linked to the exhibition will
be dedicated to them.
There are also some substantial new features: the pastoral
ministry of healthcare in Turin has organized two structures for welcoming
sick pilgrims and their carers who wish to visit the Shroud. In the "Maria
Adelaide" and "Cottolengo" hospitals, very close to the Cathedral, seventy
beds will be made available, organized on the basis of the Lourdes accueil
model, with optional meals, at controlled prices. In Turin in recent days a
convention was signed by the local health authority ASL1, the diocese and the
Cottolengo Hospital. Other reception points for brief stays (day-long) will be
established at the Sermig premises in Borgo Dora, not far from the Cathedral.
Grants
Forms are available on the site www.sindone.org to propose
meetings for further study and prayer in preparation for the visit for
catechumens, groups of young people and adults. In addition, the diocesan
Commission for the Shroud is available to offer speakers for conferences, upon
request. For further information, please contact commissione.diocesana@sindone.org.
Confessors
During recent exhibitions of the Shroud, a confessions
service has been offered in the principal languages. Following their visit to
the Shroud, pilgrims may partake in the sacrament of Penance and
Reconciliation in locations near the Cathedral. The service has been
well-received and greatly appreciated by many pilgrims, thanks also to the
availability of a number of foreign priests and missionaries, who have offered
their time to cover the shifts.
Volunteers
The "Purple jackets" are the most important asset in
support of the Holy Shroud Exhibition, the Church and the City of Turin. Over
3,500 volunteers will be available to support the organization of the event,
welcoming pilgrims inside the Cathedral and guiding them along the Royal
Garden path, through the bookshop and the Royal Castle.
As in previous events, the volunteers are mostly from the
parishes of the diocese of Turin, but some are members of the Italian military
forces (e.g. the Alpini -Italian Alpine Military Troops; Carabinieri and
Guardia di Finanza) and other volunteer groups. Some of the volunteers had
offered their work and time on the occasion of the 20th Winter
Olympic Games in Turin 2006.
The organization
The local institutions of the Municipality of Turin and
Piedmont Region have enthusiastically supported the Holy Shroud Exhibition,
offering economic contributions and all other necessary services. The
Organizing Committee is composed of 8 entities: the archdiocese of Turin, the
City of Turin, the Piedmont Region, the Compagnia di San Paolo and CRT (Bank
Foundations), the Directorate General for Cultural and Artistic Heritage, and
the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project is also assisted by the Province of
Turin, currently facing the transformation of the City into a metropolitan
centre.
In order to support the organizational costs, other local
and non-local partners have been involved in the supply of services and
products. This offers a clear sign of the importance of "cooperation" and
involvement of the entire territorial system in an event which is important
not only for its spiritual meaning, but also for its economic and cultural
consequences and its impact on tourism. Private firms have been involved in
developing a series of initiatives and services, such as the design of the "Apps"
for tablets and smart-phones to distribute information on the Holy Shroud
Exhibition, the interior refurbishment of the Cathedral and the improvement of
the Cathedral security system. Crowd-funding projects have been planned to
find new private partners interested in contributing the event.
It is noteworthy that the 2015 Milan Expo will be held at
the same time. The public institutions of the Municipality of Turin are
working hard to guarantee their presence at the Milan Expo which will serve as
a great showcase for promoting events and initiatives in northern Italy (including
the Shroud Exposition).
The most recent Shroud Exhibitions
The 2015 Holy Shroud Exhibition is the third public event
of its kind in the new millennium; the Shroud was also displayed to the public
in 2000 (for the Jubilee) and 2010.
Other recent exhibitions were held in 1998 and 1978: this
latter was the first after the Second World War. This was the first public
exhibition since 1933 (when the Holy Shroud was exhibited for the last time as
part of the celebrations for Holy Year.).The 1978 Exhibition was the first "pastoral"
exposition; it was the first time the decision to exhibit the Shroud to the
public was taken not by the Italian Savoy family, the ruling family of Italy,
but rather by a Pope in order to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Televisual expositions of the Shroud may be added to the
list: the image was broadcast to the wider public in 1983 for the first time
ever, and again on 30 March 2013.
Popes
Since 1978 the Roman Popes have expressed an interest in
participating in the public expositions of the Holy Shroud either with a
message or their own personal presence; this is a symbol of the importance
represented by the Holy Shroud as an "icon of the Passion of Jesus Christ".
Pope Francis has announced his intention to visit the 2015
Exposition, Benedict XVI visited Turin on 2 May 2010, and Pope John Paul II
made a pilgrimage on 24 May 1998 (the first time Cardinal Wojtyła visited the
Holy Shroud was in October 1978, on the occasion of the Conclave in which he
was elected as Pope).
A private viewing of the Shroud was arranged for Pope John
Paul II by the Custodian, Cardinal Ballestrero, on 13 April 1980 following the
celebration of the Holy Mass in Piazza Duomo. In 1984 the Holy See became the
legal owner of the Shroud, bequeathed by King Umberto II of Savoy.
Cultural events
On the occasion of the Holy Shroud Exhibition, both the
city of Turin and neighbouring towns will organize special cultural events and
art initiatives. All the main events will be listed on the website NK"http://www.sindone.org"www.sindone.org.
The Holy Shroud Museum (www.sindone.it) holds important artefacts and relics
documenting the history of the Shroud and offers an informative itinerary
examining related scientific research.
The Diocesan Museum, located inside the crypt of the
Cathedral, conserves magnificent examples of religious art from Turin and the
Piedmont region, and will exhibit works linked to the theme of the Lord’s
Passion.
Science
The Holy Shroud Exhibition is a religious and pastoral
event. No specific research initiatives are planned for 2015.
After the Exhibition
The Custodian, Archbishop Nosiglia, hopes that the Holy
Shroud Exhibition will create a special "memory" for the city of Turin.
Donations offered by pilgrims will not be devolved to the diocese but will
instead be used for the implementation of an important social initiative: an
hospice for the care of the terminally ill. Pilgrims may donate not only
through the traditional "Bussolotti" but also by sending a text (SMS) to a
dedicated number, to be announced shortly.
Media and Accreditation
Journalists, film crews and photographers may obtain a
press pass from the "Press" area on the official Website. The press pass
allows online access to information services and material throughout the
duration of the Exhibition and is necessary for professional visits. As in
previous events, on the occasion of the Pope’s visit it will be necessary to
follow specific procedures, to be clarified in due course.
(Bulletin of the Press Room of the Holy Seat,
November 5, 2014)
