Those who do not have a real opinion of their own, think that a moderate point of view on this issue is just an easy way out. In fact, a moderate position is probably the right one. It does not mean that we are indifferent to scientific research. We are interested in it, but at the same time autonomous. We understand that scientific results can not make a journey in faith easier or worse. This was the attitude encouraged by the Archbishop of Turin during the latest pilgrimage to the Shroud of Torino. The Pope, during his pilgrimage to the Shroud, supported the Archbishop statements.
This attitude originates from a confrontation with the history of the Shroud and its objective reality, at least for what we can trace with documentation. The Shroud itself is a sheet with an image on it. We can see a human figure in the superficial flax fibers turned darker. There are also some reddish stains, which are almost faded. And today, after the tests run on the texture, I think we are allowed to speak about blood stains.
It is that special image that gives the Shroud its exceptional value. In the Shroud we can see the figure of a dead man and the location of the blood stains hints to the causes of his death. It is usually recognized that the man was crucified. Experts in legal medicine saw the coincidence between the signs of torture in the image of the Shroud and what we know from ancient literature about the many different ways of crucifixion. This is especially noticeable in the wounds on the wrists and feet and in the angles of the blood flows. Other impressive signs of suffering can be observed: many strokes left marks on the back, on the tights, on the calves and less on the torso. Besides, there is a dense blood flow that goes from both the forehead and back of the cranium. Finally we notice the strange wound on the left side of the torso. (6).
For those who know the story of Jesus’ sufferings, as told in the Gospel, it is natural to see the similarity especially between this sign and the evidence we find on the Shroud.While the Gospel stories give us the name of that man and the causes of his death, the Shroud only insists on the details of the tortures, describing them with an incredible intensity. Instinctively any man who looks at the Shroud thinks of Jesus’ Passion, before giving any rational judgement on the image before him. This natural link between the Shroud and the Gospel leads us to understand the meaning of Jesus’ sufferings and to understand what brings together today’s pilgrims with the pilgrims who preceded them. This process is not irrational, maybe we could say it comes before science. It is quite legitimate (7): indeed: it begins on a reality and it is supported by a rich tradition.
Everything else follows. Science needs to increase our knowledge, answer questions, it cannot pronounce judgements about the link between mind, heart and life of those who got in contact with that linen and its message(8).