Turin Cathedral: Temporary closure
in preparation for the Exposition
of the Holy Shroud
The Cathedral of Turin (Duomo) was temporarily closed starting January 18 to prepare for the Exposition of the Holy Shroud which opens on April 9 and will last till May 23.
On Sunday, May 2, Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting Turin for the Exposition and the opportunity for a pastoral visit to Italy's northern industrial capital.
During the temporary closure and the Exposition, all parochial activities (Mass celebrations, confessions, etc.) will take place in the Spirito Santo church in Via Porta Palatina (via Cappella Verde side).
The distinctive Chapel of the Holy Shroud is located right behind the Cathedral of Turin; center, John Paul II during his visit at the last previous Exposition of
the Shroud in 1998; and right, the winning design for the Pope's 'cathedra' during Benedict XVI's visit.
Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Turin has chosen a design for the 'cathedra' to be used by Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Turin in May.
The competition launched for the design was won by a young architect from Udine, Ivan Vergendo, who designed an "essential and simple chair, inspired by the Transfiguration", with the image of the Holy Face found on the top part of the back rest.
Two identical chairs will be built by Friulian artisans, with wood and red velvet. After the Pope's visit, one chair will be kept by the firm that is making the chairs, the other goes to the Archdiocese of Turin.
Organizers said 817,850 persons have so far registered to see the Exposition, 93% of them Italian. The diocese expects more than a million to attend, along with 2,500 journalists from around the world, of which about a thousand have already applied for accreditation.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 29/01/2010 05:14]