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The fire which broke out during the night in Chapel of Guarini, next to the Cathedral of Turin has damaged above all the structure and the ornaments of the Chapel itself: but - thanks to God - the reliquary of the Sindon has not been damaged in any way. The building of the Cathedral itself has been entirely saved from the flames, while unfortunatly the most serious damage is to be found in the Chapel and in the contiguous building of the Royal Palace. Here, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who, starting with the firemen, the Civil Autorities, soldiers and police, did everything in their power during this emergency. The reliquary with the Shroud, immediatly removed from the Cathedreal, are kept in a self place. This serious episode has happened during the time in which our Church is preparing, in the ambit of the Great Jubilee of the Third Millenium, for the solemn ostension of the Sindon, in the month of April 1998. The destructive fire, the very serious material damage to a monument of faith and Art, represents however, for all of us Turinese - and for all the world that in these hours - have looked at Turin, a test, an appeal, a Grace. A test of our faith and, also of our capacity as believers and as citizens, attached to those tresaures which are out at the roots of our culture and of our combined way of life. Those flames also an appeal: precise appeal to the responsability which we all have, to defend and protect the religious, artistic and historic heritage so closely linked to all our experience as a Church and City. Why did it happen? In today's Gospel Jesus told us "Don't be afraid" something that He can say and that we can hear Him say to us when something terrible happens. The Cathedral, the Sindon of which I am guardian, have been touched by disaster and saved. It is the way worthy of the measure of God when he says "Don't be afraid". Now we are really sured that he walks on the water, climbs on our boat and leads us to the shore. In faith I give thanks for this sign.
+ Giovanni Card. Saldarini Torino, 12 Aprile 1997
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