Mgr. Severino Poletto, 66, former Bishop of Asti (Italy), is the new Archbishop of Turin. The Pope John Paul II, appointed him after accepting Card. Giovanni Saldarini's resignations, handed in advance on medical grounds. The installation took place on September 5, 1999 in the Turin Cathedral.

The Hospital dos Servidores do Estado of Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) hosted on September 2-4, 1999 the first South American congress with over 300 participants coming from Latin America and Italy. The theme of  the  congress  was  "O Santo Sudário" and it pointed out the historical and scientific reasons that allow to consider the Shroud authentic.

The Shroud of Turin Center of Richmond, Virginia (U.S.A.), hosted a conference, which was attended by over 300 participants from United States and all over the world, on June 18-20, 1999. The theme of the conference was "Multidisciplinary Investigation of an Enigma", and the focus was on the new research. You can also check out their website at http://members.aol.com/turin99/shroud.htm or the special page on the Shroud of Turin Website at http://www.shroud.com/richmond.htm.

Pollen traces from plants growing in Jerusalem and in the near Judaea Desert have been found on the Shroud in a new research carried out by two Israeli scientists and confirming previous studies. The research has been carried out by Proff. Avinoam Danin e Uri Baruch of the Jerusalem University. (Il Messaggero, June 16, 1999)

On Friday evening January 22, 1999 it was held a recognition of the Shroud in the presence of the Papal Custodian, Card. Giovanni Saldarini, and the members of the Diocesan Commission for the preservation. The recognition gave wholly positive results: the layout of the new case with inert gas grants the necessary outside safeties and the optimum conditions to preserve the Shroud. (Press release Archdiocese of Turin, January 25, 1999)