Beginning on March 5, the first day of Lent, and continuing through Easter Sunday, April 20, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., will host a special exhibit entitled “Lord, You Could Not Love Me More!’: Saint John Paul II and the Shroud of Turin.” This exhibit aims to deepen understanding and devotion to the Shroud of Turin, which many believe to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.
This exhibit is a response to Saint John Paul II’s call to reflect on the significance of the shroud. During his 1998 visit to Turin, where the shroud is kept, he emphasized that “the shroud does not hold people’s hearts to itself but turns them to him, at whose service the Father’s loving providence has put it” (according to statements from his pilgrimage). He further stated, “It is right to foster an awareness of the precious value of this image, which everyone sees and no one at present can explain.”
A Journey into History, Science, and Faith
The exhibit offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the shroud’s history, its movement across centuries, and the scientific research surrounding its authenticity. The faithful will also encounter devotional insights into what the shroud reveals about the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
One of the key highlights of the exhibit is a replica of the Shroud of Turin, on loan from the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Visitors will also explore over 30 gallery panels containing images and explanatory text, helping them delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding this sacred relic. In addition, the exhibit features a powerful sculpture titled “The Sign.” Created by renowned sculptor Pablo Eduardo in collaboration with Dr. Gilbert Lavoie—a medical expert in shroud studies—this life-size 3D rendering of the man of the shroud offers a striking representation of Christ’s suffering.
Dr. Lavoie, author of The Shroud of Jesus: And the Sign John Ingeniously Concealed, has dedicated years to researching the shroud, and his current findings on the sculpture’s significance will be highlighted within the exhibit.
A Lenten Encounter with the Passion of Christ
The timing of this exhibit during Lent is meant to inspire visitors to enter more deeply into the penitential season through contemplation of Christ’s suffering. Reflecting on the importance of the shroud, Saint John Paul II said, “Contemplation of that tortured body helps contemporary man to free himself from the superficiality of the selfishness with which he frequently treats love and sin.” He added, “The shroud whispers: Believe in God’s love, the greatest treasure given to humanity, and flee from sin, the greatest misfortune in history.”
Anthony Picarello, executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, emphasized the exhibit’s alignment with the late pope’s legacy. “It illustrates how human beings can approach the deepest mysteries fruitfully with faith and reason together, how the human body can express the most radical love, and—especially during Lent—the power of redemptive suffering,” he said in a press release.
The shrine’s director of mission and ministry, Grattan Brown, highlighted how shrines serve as places of spiritual renewal, stating, “The Shroud of Turin, which may be the burial cloth of Jesus, connects us with Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, God’s most loving gift for humanity.” He continued, “It is a joy for the St. John Paul II National Shrine to offer this exhibit so that our pilgrims may experience God’s mercy during Lent.”
An Invitation to Encounter Christ’s Love
This exhibit serves as an invitation for Catholics to pause, reflect, and encounter Christ’s sacrificial love in a tangible way. By engaging with the historical and scientific aspects of the shroud while deepening their faith, visitors may find themselves drawn closer to the heart of Christ’s passion.
For those seeking a meaningful Lenten experience, a visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine’s exhibit on the Shroud of Turin promises to be a profound journey of faith, knowledge, and devotion.
