Pope Benedict XVI's Blessing

Immediately following the printing of the book, The Ancient Jewish Shroud At Turin, the author, John N. Lupia, met with a high ranking Catholic Church official and diplomat in the Holy Land who kindly sent copies of the book to the Holy Father, and to the Church authorities at Turin, Italy, on behalf of the author. The Holy Father received the book during Holy Week, on Holy Saturday, 3 April 2010. On May 3rd, the same day the papal message was sent by the Apostolic Nunciature office in the Vatican on behalf of the Holy Father to the author the Holy Father prayed before the Holy Shroud at Turin and delivered his mediation on it declaring it is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.