SHROUD OF TURIN TO BE DISPLAYED FOR SIX WEEKS

THE LONG LINEN WITH THE FADED IMAGE OF A BEARDED MAN IS THE OBJECT OF CENTURIES-OLD FASCINATION AND WONDERMENT, AND CLOSELY KEPT UNDER WRAP. STARTING 10.APRIL, AND BEING EXHIBITED FOR SIX WEEKS, BOTH THE CURIOUS AND THOSE CONVINCED THE TURIN SHROUD IS THE BURIAL CLOTH OF CHRIST CAN HAVE A BRIEF LOOK. BY LATE FRIDAY, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAD RESERVED THEIR FIVE MINUTE CHANCE TO GAZE AT THE CLOTH, WHICH IS KEPT IN A BULLETPROOF, CLIMATE-CONTROLLED CASE. ORGANIZERS SAID EARLIER THIS YEAR THEY HOPED SOME 2 MILLION PILGRIMS AND TOURISTS WOULD SEE THE LINEN DURING THE SPECIAL VIEWING FROM 19.APRIL TO 23.MAY. THAT NUMBER DOESN'T INCLUDE POPE BENEDICT XVI, WHO WILL FLY TO TURIN ON 2.MAY FOR A DAY TRIP TO PRAY BEFORE THE SHROUD. TRADITIONALLY, THE PUBLIC GETS A PEEK AT THE 14 FOOT LONG, 3.5 FOOT WIDE CLOTH ONLY ONCE EVERY 25 YEARS. BUT RECENT DECADES HAVE SEEN MUCH LONGER INTERVALS. THE SHROUD WENT ON DISPLAY IN 1998 AFTER A 20 YEAR WAIT AND THEN AGAIN IN 2000 DURING THE MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS. SINCE THE LINEN'S PREVIOUS SHOWING A DECADE EARLIER, RESTORERS HAVE REMOVED PATCHES SEWN ON BY NUNS IN 1534, TWO YEARS AFTER A FIRE DAMAGED THE CASE THEN HOLDING THE SHROUD, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SHROUD MUSEUM SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. TAKING OFF THE PATCHES ALLOWED THE LINEN TO BE FULLY EXTENDED AND LET RESTORERS SMOOTH OUT CREASES IN WHAT FOR CENTURIES HAD BEEN A ROLLED-UP CLOTH, MAKING FOR WHAT RESTORERS HOPE WILL BE BETTER PRESERVATION.