Cardinal of Turin starts novena for Pope's visit to Shroud

(April 24, 2010) Cardinal Severino Poletto began a novena prayer on Friday in the run-up to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Holy Shroud in the northern Italian city of Turin. The shroud, also known as the Turin Shroud, is a long linen with the faded image of a bearded man, believed to be the burial cloth of Christ. The relic is on public display in Turin Cathedral from April 10 to May 23. Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit the relic on May 2. Cardinal Poletto, who is archbishop of Turin, stressed the spiritual foundations of the papal visit, and encouraged prayer as a means of living the "true meaning" of the event. The novena will run until May 1, the eve of the Holy Father`s arrival in the city. Cardinal Poletto asked that the entire archdiocese complete the novena for the Pope and his intentions through Mass, the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration or "at least" by remembering him in their daily prayers. From the sick, he also asked the offering of their suffering for the same cause. The Catholic Church does not claim the Shroud is authentic or that it is a matter of faith.