More than two million visit the Shroud of Turin

(May 6, 2010) It was estimated that 2 million pilgrims would travel to northern Italy to see the Shroud of Turin for its first public display in a decade. In fact, that number has been easily surpassed. The Shroud of Turin -- the cloth believed to have enwrapped Jesus in the tomb -- is on display until May 23. And Turin already welcomed its most high-profile pilgrim last Sunday: Pope Benedict XVI. But in addition more than 2 million more will pass through Turin to see the linen cloth that the Holy Father referred to as an "icon written in blood." The organisers had two objectives, namely to have 2 million visitors and to guarantee the reception of pilgrims visiting Turin. “Both have been achieved," said the president of the Exposition Commission, Fiorenzo Alfieri. "The objective of 2 million visitors has been easily achieved and it will also be surpassed. More than 50,000 faithful visit daily. There are already 1.8 million reservations, to which must be added the 70,000 that arrive every week without reservations.