In photos: Shroud of Turin pilgrimage

TURIN, Italy — Come Christmastime and any other important Catholic holiday, the Cappella della Sacra Sindone or simply, the Chapel of the Shroud of Turin, has been among the popular destinations for pilgrims as it houses what the National Geographic described as the most studied artifact in the world, the Shroud of Turin.

The Shroud is believed to be the wrapping cloth that contains the image of Jesus Christ, reportedly made by his blood marks following his crucifixion. Latest X-ray dating of a sample of the Shroud shows that it is 2,000 years old or has been consistent with Jesus’ time.

According to the Catholic faith, the Shroud is proof of both Jesus’ resurrection and his time on Earth as the Son of Man, celebrated every Christmas with his birth in Bethlehem. 

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