The first American pope addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish! A good sign for a united world in Christ's name!

Meet Joe Marino, who leads the influential site Shroud.com, following the June 2024 passing of the legendary founder, Barrie Schwortz. Read the interview with Myra Kahn Adams posted Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, on Townhall. Excerpt:

To commemorate Resurrection Sunday, I conducted a special interview with Joe Marino. Since June 2024, Joe has been president of the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association (STERA) — the Shroud’s equivalent of the Library of Congress. Most famously, STERA publishes Shroud.com, the world's leading Shroud website.

STERA and Shroud.com were founded by Barrie Schwortz, the world-renowned Shroud authority, who died in June 2024. You can read my 2020 interview with Barrie, “Shroud of Turin: Interview with the World’s Leading Expert, Who Happens to Be Jewish.”

Since today is Joe Marino’s first Easter in this high-profile Shroud leadership position, I thought an interview would be both fitting and informative. This is my second interview with Joe. In December 2020, the first was about his book, “Shroud of Turin: Interview With Expert of New Book Disputing Medieval Date Test.” Let’s begin. Read more..

 

 

Credit: Catholic Herald - Pope Francis before the Shroud of Turin in 2015.

Pope Francis prayed before the Shroud on June 21, 2015, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, where it has been housed since 1578. He said: “The shroud draws (us) to the face and martyred body of Jesus and, at the same time, impels us toward the face of every suffering and unjustly persecuted person. It impels us in the same direction as Jesus’ gift of love.” 

The Pope has gone home to be with Jesus. Bless you, Pope Francis, for your service to humankind.

 

The 20th Anniversary of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. was attended by 1400 people on February 28. Vice President JD Vance addressed the crowd. There was a reception the evening of February 27 where the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit previewed its double table Shroud exhibit at the "Gallery of Catholic Works." Attendees swamped our booth at both events, and I dare say that our National Shroud of Turin Exhibit was the most popular. The exhibit is shown below.

Shown below at our booth, we had a fabulous team who contributed to our success and must be thanked. From Left to Right: Shroud experts Pam McCue and Jim Naulty, Myra Kahn Adams, Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, Sculptor Timothy Schmalz, and founding member David Adams.  At the far right, Timothy's Shroud sculpture, called "Emergence," is an epic work in progress, but already attendees were applauding Tim's "rough draft" miniature model that, when completed, could be 20 feet high. Soon, the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit will be offering "Emergence" models in all sizes to raise funds to produce our permanent National Shroud of Turin Exhibit in downtown Washington, D.C. Watch this space!

Shown below is Timothy Schmalz explaining his vision for "Emergence" to His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. (The Vatican Ambassador to the US.) By mid-2025, Timothy will have a second sculpture installed in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square. His first one (shown in the photo above to the right with Pope Francis) was installed in September 2019 as the first new sculpture in 400 years! We are honored to have Timothy Schmalz as a partner and a National Shroud of Turin Exhibit advisory board member. 

Below is an early, unfinished mini-prototype of "Emergence."  

More news! Shown below is Myra Kahn Adams with our life-sized Shroud replica on display at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit has loaned the Shrine this replica made by the Shroud authorities in Turin, Italy. The Shrine's Shroud exhibit has generated much news attention. It is titled, "'Lord, You Could Not Love Me More!' - Saint John Paul II and the Shroud of Turin." The Exhibit will be open from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Read more at Aleteia, National Catholic Register, and Catholic News Agency.

If you are interested in helping the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit produce a permanent Shroud of Turin Exhibit in downtown Washington DC. Please donate here.  Stay tuned for more exciting news! 

2025 is a banner year for the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit!

Our mission is to produce a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in downtown Washington, D.C. We are closer to that goal because of our partners. Join our effort!

First, the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit (NSTE) is partnering with internationally renowned sculptor Timothy Schmalz. He is creating a bronze Shroud of Turin "Emergence" sculpture that is destined to be world-famous — as are his "Homeless Jesus" series and "Angels Unawares" — the life-sized immigrant boat sculpture prominently located in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square since 2019.

Shown below is the Shroud "Emergence" in progress.

When complete, a ceiling-high cast of "Emergence" will be displayed at the NSTE's permanent home in downtown Washington, D.C., when the Lord reveals the location and your donations open the doors. To make that happen, NSTE will soon offer "Emergence" to donors in mini-sizes or larger upon request. More details to follow.

*****

Second, NSTE and Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, are exploring opportunities to collaborate and develop new engagements. The goal is to bring more people to an encounter with Jesus through the Shroud. Franciscan Univ. is a premier, influential Catholic-centered institution. In late February, they are opening a "campus" in Washington, D.C. Our collaboration with Franciscan Univ. is timely because, in August 2024, there was an unprecedented explosion of favorable Shroud news in the secular media. This "Shroud burst" amplified what was already a surge of interest attributed to the cloth's numerous mysterious properties, which fascinate scientists, believers, and non-believers.

*****

Third, the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit's life-sized Shroud of Turin replica will be displayed at Pope John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., during their Shroud exhibit open on Ash Wednesday, March 5, through Easter Sunday, April 19. The exhibit is titled "Lord, You Could Not Love Me More: Saint John Paul II  and the Shroud of Turin." Read more at Aleteia, National Catholic Register, and Catholic News Agency.

*****

Fourth, the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit will have a mini-Shroud exhibit booth and sponsor a breakfast table at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 27 -28 in Washington, D.C. Internationally known Tim Schmalz will be "live sculpting" his "Emergence" statue at the exhibit booth. Also displayed will be large banners of the Shroud, free brochures with diagrams of the Shroud, replicas of crucifixion nails, and the crown of thorns.

*****

Fifth, the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit is a sponsor partner for a major international Shroud conference at the Augustine Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, from July 30 to August 3. The conference offers scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to delve into the latest research, historical insights, and scientific studies on the enigmatic Shroud of Turin. Sessions are led by some of the world’s top Shroud experts, presenting thought-provoking and interactive content across various disciplines, including science, philosophy, and theology. 

*****

More to come! Stay tuned! With your prayers and the Lord's hand upon us, 2025 will be a banner year for the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit! We pray this year is when we will find our permanent home. Contact: Myra Kahn Adams - [email protected]

A sudden, unprecedented explosion of news about the Shroud of Turin!  August 2024 will be remembered as the month that the Shroud of Turin was a secular news breakout star. Headlines screamed about how the Shroud could be authentic based on years-old existing studies and research that suddenly made national and global news. Aleteia ran a story about this phenomenal occurrence that extensively quoted two members of our team - Myra Kahn Adams and Nora Creech. Here is the headline of the report that was on Aleteia's most-read list for days.

Why did the Shroud suddenly become world news in August? There is only one possible explanation (Myra's opinion): "God wants you to know the Shroud of Turin is the authentic burial Shroud of Jesus Christ in whom you can place your faith, hope, trust, and belief in Him!" Here is only a sample of news headlines:

Fox News: "Researchers make new finding on Turin Shroud that many believe was Christ's burial cloth: 'Mysteries of God.'"

Yahoo News: "Shroud of Turin really is 2,000 years old, new study suggests."

NYPost.com: "Face of Jesus? AI recreates stunning likeness of Shroud of Turin image that many believe to be Christ."

Newsweek: "Turin Shroud Study Claims Controversial Cloth Does Date to Time of Jesus."

Al Jazeera: "What's the big mystery behind the Shroud of Turin?"

DailyMail UK: "New blood analysis of the Shroud of Turin' supports Biblical story about Jesus' crucifixion.'"

BarStoolSports: New Scientific Analysis of the Shroud of Turin Might Be Revealing the Greatest Discovery in Human History

MSN.com: 'Face of Jesus' unveiled by AI using Shroud of Turin after astonishing discovery."

DailyMail UK: "Atheist who set out to prove the Shroud of Turin was fake reveals why he's now 'convinced' it's the cloth Jesus was buried in."

Independent.co.uk: "Turin Shroud may be Jesus's burial cloth, new study suggests."

NYPost.com: "Controversial new Shroud of Turin evidence said to offer proof of Christ's crucifixion."

DailyMail UK: "Is this proof the Turin Shroud IS real? Scientists make startling discovery after analysing cloth 'Jesus was buried in.'"

Overwhelmed? Watch this short video featuring prominent Shroud expert Russ Breault, a member of our National Shroud of Turin Exhibit team. A Banner Week for Shroud of Turin News! (youtube.com)  This video helps you understand what could be considered "God's Hand" on the news cycle — literally out of nowhere in mid-August!

Let's pray that the Shroud stays in the news because untold millions of people around the world believe it is the burial Shroud of Jesus, because it is!

 

July 20, 2024 - Indianapolis, Indiana: The hard-working Shroud of Turin Exhibit team at the four-day National Eucharistic Congress with "The Chosen" actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the hit series. (Not all of the team was present when Jonathan visited.) Our exhibit had wait times of up to three hours. Lines never stopped for the entire Congress!  Approximately 60,000 people attended the Congress itself. Watch this video about the exhibit starring Fr. Andrew Dalton, produced by Shalom World TV.  Also read this headline story on Aleteia, an influential international Catholic news site.

Dr. Cheryl White explains the Ricci crucifix to Jonathan Roumie during his tour of the Shroud exhibit. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Special thanks to Nora Creech, who produced this Othonia exhibit for the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. More thanks to Pam McCue and Dr. Cheryl White, who co-produced. Thanks to Jason Pearson, who produced the video. Thanks to Matt Collins for his bronze life-sized sculpture of Jesus in the tomb. Thanks to Bill Lauto for his exhibit tours. Thanks to program speakers Fr. Andrew Dalton, Fr. Peter Mangum, Dr. Cheryl White, Fr. Kelby Tingle, Fr. Rafael Pascual, and Nan Balfour.

Thanks to Mary Botham for heading up the front desk. Many thanks to Marty Botham, Dennis Creech, David Adams, Peter Arenas, and Phillip Capehart for working on the difficult task of crowd control. Thanks to front desk helpers Annika Pearson, Belenna Lauto, and Alona Capehart.  General helpers Engie Lee, Martha May, Denise, and Jesse Montagnino. Junior helpers Dominic, Adelina, and Sofia Montagnino.  Myra Adams is exhausted just thanking everyone for their tireless efforts. The "Who is the Man of the Shroud" exhibit generated much media attention, always mentioning long lines.

Finally, thanks to Joel Stepanek, VP of Programming and Admin for the National Eucharistic Congress, for providing ballroom space, exhibit hardware, and printing 50,000 Shroud of Turin diagram brochures for all the pilgrims who waited patiently in line and read the brochure to help pass the time. Congrats to everyone! Mission Accomplished!

Jonathan Roumie, visiting our exhibit, is looking at the Shroud bust of Jesus, which many people say looks like him. The bust, by Matt Collins, was displayed on the stage, where the speakers gave their daily programs to a standing-room-only crowd.

Sisterhood of the Shroud outside the exhibit on July 19, 2024. Left to right: Nora Creech, Lisa Rowan, Myra Adams, Dr. Cheryl White.

 

At the Eucharistic Congress, Nora Creech, the producer of the Shroud exhibit in the hallway with the endless waiting line.

One of the many times Fr. Andrew Dalton spoke to the pilgrims. We had to double the seating area and still needed more chairs!

The exhibit intro video played continuously from July 17-20, every 7 minutes, to about 50 people with standing room.

Nora Creech during an interview with EWTN. Over the four days, the Shroud exhibit had a parade of media people.  Below is a screenshot of the Aleteia headline story posted on July 26, 2024, that was "#1 most read" all day/night.

 

 

NationalEucharisticCongress.org

July 17-21, 2024 - Indianapolis, IN

Official Schedule for the National Eucharistic Congress 

 

 

Four-day exhibit with speakers in Wabash Ballroom 3 at Convention Center.

 

The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is a milestone moment within the three-year movement of Revival. Catholics will gather from around the nation in Indianapolis, where the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit will featured during the four-day Congress. Meditating on the Shroud and its relationship to the Real Presence in the Eucharist can lead to profound, personal renewal through the power of Christ's love.  On-site contact: Myra Kahn Adams at 703/795-8136 

 

 

****************************************************************************************

With sadness, we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague Barrie Schwortz, Shroud of Turin expert and founder of Shroud.com, the world's leading Shroud website. It is also the Shroud's "Library of Congress," with its volumes of research papers, documents, and news. Barrie's death was expected, but it is painful to accept that he is gone. Joe Marino is stepping in as editor of Shroud.com, and here is the official announcement. Also, see Barrie’s bio on our team page. For decades, Barrie was an important spokesperson for the Shroud. I jokingly called him "King of the Shroud," and he was. Those who knew and loved Barrie can hear the Lord saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Here is my 2020 Townhall.com interview with Barrie headlined:
Shroud of Turin: Interview with the World’s Leading Expert Who Happens To Be Jewish.

Rest in peace, Barrie! You were much loved, and your legacy lives on forever.

Above: April 26, 2023, at the opening of the Shroud exhibit at the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, Texas. Nora Creech, left, was one of the exhibit producers. Barrie is in the middle, and Myra Adams is right. Below: On April 27, 2023, at the same event with Dr. Cheryl White.