Message of Pope Paul VI for the first TV broadcasting of the exposition of the Holy Shroud
 
On 23 November 1973 for the first time in history the exposition of the Shroud was broadcast live on Channel one.

To our venerated brother Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, Archbishop of Turin, and to all the Churches entrusted to his pastoral ministry, in full communion with us. And to all those who, follow this ceremony on the radio or on television!

We feel as if we were there, and the eyes of our spirit were staring with careful and devoted veneration at the Holy Shroud, that is now displayed in Torino, guardian city of such a special Object.

We know that many studies have been made on this celebrated relic, we do not ignore that real piety surrounds it. We personally remember the living impression that caught our soul when on May 1931 we were lucky to attend a wide screen projection of the image of the Holy Shroud, on a special tribute to it. The face of Christ looked so true and deep, human and divine at the same time, as we had never seen and venerated in any other picture; that moment was a singular charm for us.

Whatever the scientific and historical judgement scholars will express about this surprising and mysterious relic, we can not but hope that it will be able to bring all the visitors to a sensitive consideration of the exterior and mortal life of the wonderful figure of the savior; and it could also introduce them to a more penetrating vision of the cloth’s hidden and fascinating mystery.

The image of Christ in the Gospel inspired in us the need to see Him, perhaps just for curiosity. Luke the evangelist said Zaccheus "sought to see Jesus" (Lk 19-3); the Greeks arrived to

Jerusalem on the day of the celebration of the Palms and they told the apostle Philip that "Sir, we would see Jesus" (Jn 12; 21).

To see Jesus! We think of His patient face struggled and disfigured, as it is described by the prophet Isaiah: "when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him… He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…" (Isaiah 53); He was the most beautiful among the sons of men..."(Ps 44,3).

Yes, we think of that blessed face that in the night of the transfiguration on the mountains dazzled the three disciples with an unforgettable apparition that Jesus opened before them (Mt 17, 2-6; II Pet.1, 16-18), it was almost esoteric, theological; but afterwards, during the last supper, when one of the disciples naively asks Him to show him the Father He says "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John; 14-9).

What a luck, what a mystery to see Jesus! (Mt. !3-16) It is Him! Is this beatitude taken away from us, since we are far in space and time? Are we, then, blind, like the disciples of Emmaus who did not recognize Jesus in the pilgrim who walked with them? (Lk. 24: 16).

Should we give up and yield to the traditional statements of Saint Augustin and Saint Ireneus, who said we can not know anything about the human appearances of Jesus? We are then very lucky if this surviving effigy of Christ, the Holy Shroud, let us contemplate some authentic lines

of the figure of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it really satisfies our eagerness to see Him!

We will soon be gathered around that precious and pious relic, and His mysterious charm will grow within us, either believers or non-believers. The evangelic teaching of His voice will sound

in our hearts, He will invite us to search for Him in the places where He is hiding, He will let us discover, love and serve His human figure: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethen, ye have done it unto me." (Mt. 25; 40).

Torino is glorious and devoted to the Holy Shroud, the city was able to welcome its revealing voice.

Our blessing be symbol and prize for all those who are listening to us.

Paulus PP. VI.

From: "Rivista Diocesana Torinese".
N. 12; 1973. Pages 465-466.