Shrouded in Mystery

By: Mukul Sharma

How belief can make or mar one’s judgement was clearly evident from Pope Francis’ recent remarks on the mysterious Turin Shroud when it was shown live on television on the day after Good Friday.

He was referring to the 14-ftlong strip of sepia fabric imprinted with the face and body of a bearded man that is believed by a lot of Christians to be the burial cloth of Jesus.

Said the Pope, “This disfigured face resembles all those faces of men and women marred by a life which does not respect their dignity… And yet, the face in the shroud conveys a great peace. This tortured body expresses a sovereign majesty.

It lets a pure and calm energy shine through and it seems to say to us: ‘Trust and don’t lose hope. The power of the Lord defeats all.’ ” But the Vatican itself has never formally admitted that the shroud is a genuine relic. Therefore, this Pope too could not go much beyond the non-committal approach of the Catholic Church on the shroud’s authenticity.

For instance, he used the word “icon” instead of “relic” that would have immediately given it the stamp of being the real thing. At the same time, it’s absolutely clear that he’s genuinely moved by the “icon”.

For the record, the Turin Shroud has been scientifically investigated by radiocarbon dating to be a 14th-century fake —with 95% accuracy — but other tests such as image analysis, anatomical forensics and blood stain studies indicate it may be legitimate.

But who cares? A placebo is also a fake pill that cures about 30% of any given population from real illnesses because the patient believes the “icon”.