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Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini stands next to the silver casket , which protected the Holy Shroud from a fire last year, in Turin's San Domenico's Church Wednesday April 15, 1998. From Saturday 18 through June 14, the Holy Shroud will be shown to the general public. Associated Press

Shroud of Turin returns to Italian cathedral

Web posted April 18, 1998

Associated Press

TURIN, Italy -- The famed shroud of Turin has returned to the San Giovanni Cathedral after being whisked away following a devastating fire last year.

A convent on the outskirts of Turin had housed the shroud -- which escaped the fire undamaged -- until its glorious return Wednesday to San Giovanni. Craftsmen recently completed renovations to the cathedral, whose chapel and adjoining palace were badly damaged by the blaze.

On Saturday, visitors again will be able to view the shroud that many believe was Jesus Christ's burial cloth.

More than 800,000 people already have called a special toll-free number set up to reserve a spot to view the cloth, Italian news reports said. Because of the huge demand, visitors will be allowed only two minutes each to look at the shroud, the reports said.

The shroud, about 12 sq. feet, was unfurled during a solemn ``homecoming'' ceremony presided over by the archbishop of Turin.

The cloth is enclosed in an airtight space between two glass panels, and its temperature and humidity is constantly monitored by special sensor equipment.