(ZENIT News / Turin, 03.03.2025).- When we talk about «ostensions of the Holy Shroud» we are referring to the different exhibitions of the Holy Shroud, thereby implying that, throughout its history, the fabric has not been permanently exposed to the view of the faithful but, rather, hidden.
Although the term “ostension” is intimately related with its solemn or public character, in the 20th and 21st. centuries the Holy Shroud has not had a regular periodicity of exhibition.
It was shown in 1931 on the occasion of the wedding of Prince Humberto II; in 1933 on the occasion of the Extraordinary Holy Year; in 1946 in Montevergine; in 1969 to a Commission of Experts; in 1973 to a group of journalists; in 1973 it was shown for the first time on television; in 1978 the first general public ostentation was held, which was seen by three million pilgrims. It was shown to Saint John Paul II in 1980. After several private ostensions, there was a new public ostension in 1998. Two years later, on the occasion of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, another public ostension was held for 72 days. After various private ostensions, among them to the Savoy family that donated it to the Church, it was exhibited publicly in 2010 under Benedict XVI and then in 2015, under Pope Francis.
This brief historical review shows that there has not been a fixed regularity in its ostension and that, contrary to what some think that it is shown in Jubilees, this is not so.
In fact, the updated official information on the Web of the Holy Shroud states clearly that “No public ostension of the Holy Shroud is foreseen in 2025.”
