

Carlo Borromeo
and the Shroud
—
When Charles Borromeo
manifested to Duke Emmanuel Philibert
of Savoy the wish to venerate such a rare
and distinguished relic
In 1578, Charles Borromeo manifested his wish to
make a pilgrimage to venerate the Shroud. This was the
opportunity for Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy to
transfer the Shroud from Chambéry to Turin.
This solution went hand in hand with the transfer
of the Duchy of Savoy to Turin. Furthermore, the visit
of an illustrious exponent of the Church, like Cardinal
Charles Borromeo, would consecrate the role of the
House of Savoy as the custodian of the most sacred object.
Therefore, this event established Turin on the map of
catholic pilgrimage.
On September 14
th
, 1578 the Shroud arrived in Turin and it
was held in the old church of Blessed Mary ad Praesepem.
As far as Carlo Borromeo is concerned, some ancient
witnesses define his visit to the Shroud a mere
and deep aspiration.
In Turin, Borromeo viewed for the first time the holy
Cloth, which he scanned with intensity. Afterwards, on
September 12
th
he was present, with some bishops, to
the Exhibition of the Shroud that took place on a stage
erected in front of the ducal Palace.
Borromeo came back in Turin for the Exhibition of the
Shroud on June 13
th
, 14
th
1582. On this occasion, he
delivered a public sermon and also a private one in front
of the young Duke Charles Emmanuel I.
He made one more pilgrimage to the Holy Shroud in
October 1584, shortly before his death ■
the visit of an illustrious
exponent of the Church,
like Cardinal Charles
Borromeo, would
consecrate the role
of the House of Savoy
as the custodian
of the most sacred object
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