Holy Father Pope Francis prayed silently before the Holy Shroud on Sunday 21th June, following

 

the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of people who have come this year to Turin’s cathedral to

 

view the burial linen which covered the body of Jesus Lord after crucifixion.

 

Holy Father sat for several minutes before the Holy Shroud, which is contained in a protective

 

glass case. He lowered his head at times in apparent reflection and occasionally gazed up. Then

 

His Holiness took a few steps, placed his hand on the case, and walked away without comment.

 

Later, after celebrating mass in a packed Turin square, Pope Francis shared his thoughts on the

 

Holy Shroud as He spoke of the love Jesus had for humanity when being crucified.

 

“The icon of this love is the Shroud, that, even now, has attracted so many people here to Turin,”

 

Francis said. “The shroud draws [people] to the tormented face and body of Jesus and, at the

 

same time, directs [people] toward the face of every suffering and unjustly persecuted person.”

 

The display of the shroud began on 19 April and will continue until 24 June.

 

Srilankan Catholic communities of Italy visited and prayed the Holy Shroud last week (14th June),

 

the pilgrimage was organized by Rt. Rev. Mgr. Neville Joe and co-organized by Rev Fr. Malcom

 

Perera, Chaplain of Milan, Northen Province.