ZENIT has a new story on the Manoppello image by Genevieve Pollock:
MANOPPELLO, Italy, MARCH 28, 2011 (Zenit.org).- A veil in Manoppello, kept secret for centuries and only recently reemerging, illustrates Christ’s resurrection in a way that will change the world, says Paul Badde.
Badde, author of "The Face of God: The Rediscovery of the True Face of Jesus" (Ignatius Press), explained to ZENIT how this veil features "uncountable" images of the Risen Christ.
The journalist and historian, and editor for the German newspaper "Die Welt," noted that the veil also illustrates much of what Benedict XVI wrote about in his newest book, "Jesus of Nazareth Part II: Holy Week — From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection" (Ignatius Press).
In fact, the Pope visited the shrine at Manoppello as one of the first trips of his pontificate, reflecting his decades-long interest in the meditation on the face of God, the author noted.
In this interview with ZENIT, Badde explained some of the conclusions of his research on this veil, and why he thinks it is bound to change the world.
ZENIT: Some have referred to the Veil of Manoppello as belonging to Veronica, and having the image of Jesus’ face from before the Crucifixion. Your investigation, however, led you to a different conclusion. Could you clarify what this veil is?
Badde: This veil has had many names in the last 2000 years — maintaining only its unique character in the same time.
It is, in fact, "the napkin" or "handkerchief" (in Greek: soudarion), to which St. John the Evangelist is referring in his report of the discovery of the empty tomb by St. Peter and himself, that they saw "apart" from the cloths (including the shroud of Joseph from Arimathea) in which Jesus had been buried.
Or it is not the napkin, rather the Sudarium in Oviedo is. I’m not convinced. This will be debated for many years to come. See: ZENIT – Secret Veil Illustrates Christ’s Resurrection