A new digital initiative dedicated to the Shroud of Turin is offering Catholics around the world an unprecedented opportunity to contemplate the mystery of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection through modern technology.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV was presented with “Avvolti,” an online project created by the Archdiocese of Turin that allows users to explore the image of the Shroud of Turin in extraordinary detail. The presentation took place during an audience at the Apostolic Palace, marking the Holy Father’s first official access to the digital experience, according to LifeSiteNews.
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The project was introduced to the Pope by Cardinal Roberto Repole, the Archbishop of Turin and Pontifical Custodian of the Shroud. Reflecting on the spiritual meaning of the relic, Cardinal Repole explained that, “Too often, we mistake optimism for hope. True hope emerges in the darkest moments, when all seems lost, yet faith endures.” He added that “The Shroud, in this sense, is not merely an image of suffering but a trace of the Resurrection – a testament to the possibility of divine intervention,” according to remarks cited by LifeSiteNews.
“Avvolti” is designed to be accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers, enabling users to move across the full image of the Shroud and zoom in on specific details, including the face, the marks of flagellation, the crown of thorns, and the nail wounds. Each section is accompanied by explanatory texts and references to Gospel passages describing the Passion of Jesus, according to the Archdiocese of Turin.
Church officials have emphasized that the initiative combines scientific rigor with an accessible presentation, aiming to reach a broad international audience rather than only specialists. The digital platform builds on a physical exhibition held in Turin in spring 2025, when a life-size digital reproduction of the Shroud drew more than 30,000 visitors from dozens of countries, according to LifeSiteNews.
The launch of “Avvolti” also comes amid ongoing scholarly discussion about the Shroud’s origin. Among those who have defended its authenticity is Italian chemist Emanuela Marinelli, who has argued that features such as anatomical precision, correspondence with Gospel accounts, and the image’s inverted luminosity are difficult to explain as a medieval forgery, according to LifeSiteNews.
As preparations continue toward the Jubilee of 2033, marking 2,000 years since the events traditionally associated with Christ’s Passion, Church leaders hope that initiatives like “Avvolti” will help the faithful encounter the mystery of Christ’s saving death and Resurrection in a deeper and more prayerful way.
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