imageA reader writes, “These two articles (see below) may be why Fanti’s book had to come before peer-review which might be difficult to impossible in Catholic Italy.”

I don’t know about that. Maybe so. But, here are the two articles, both from Vatican Insider. This will undoubtedly be a long running dispute between Giulio Fanti and the Archbishop of Turin acting as Papal custodian of the Holy Shroud. The articles are presented here, below their Italian title, as Microsoft Bing Translations (difficult but essential):

1)  Riserve del CIS sul volume Fanti-Gaeta, la replica del professore

A note from the International Centre of Sindonology and the response of the scholar at the University of Padua

Rome

With reference to the news of the publication by the Publisher Rizzoli volume "the mystery of the shroud" by Giulio Fanti and Saverio Gaeta, in which the following would be searches on material that is supposed to come from the shroud of Turin, the International Centre of Sindonology in Turin expressed their reservations before an approach to the theme that is based on elements such as the analysis of tissue samples whose membership in the sindonico is at least dubious cloth and not verifiable anywaybecause no traceability.

The intervention of the CIS

In this regard the CIS refer to official statements on "experiments and analysis concerning the Holy Shroud" already released-on the occasion of other similar attempts in the past about alleged sindonico-material samples by Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini in September 1995 and by Cardinal Severino Poletto the May 4, 2009, acting as "Papal Custodians of the Shroud" and therefore also on behalf of the Holy See, owner of the shroud.

"There are more and more reports of experiments done on samples of sindonico material in order to verify the results of analyses carried out by the carbon 14 method in the summer of 1988. As far as the objective can be legitimate and the Church recognizes each scientist’s right to do the research which it deems appropriate in the context of its science, in this case it is necessary to clarify that: a) no new material is taken place on the Holy Shroud after April 21, 1988 and both the property and the custody of the Shroud has not that there can be residual material of that hand-picking; b) If this material existed, the guardian recalls that the property has not given anyone permission to keep track and make any use and please those interested to put it back in the hands of the same; c) since there is no degree of membership security of materials which were to be carried out such experiments at the sindonico, the property sheet and the custody State that they cannot recognize any serious value to the results of the alleged experiments; d) obviously this does not apply for searches initiated with material taken with express permission of the keeper during the October 1978 examinations; and) in the climate of mutual confidence with the world of scientists, the Holy See, and Archbishop of Turin invite scientists to wait until the time has come for a concerted research program organically. "

Giovanni Cardinal Saldarini

Archbishop of Turin

Papal custodian of the Holy Shroud

Turin, September 1995

«On mass media appeared in recent times news regarding research on purported sindonico material, various goals service. On them the Papal Custodian of the shroud feels duty-bound to adopt a position, on the line of the affidavits released in 1995 by his predecessor, Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini.

Is undisputed for the Church that every scientist has the right to make appropriate searches in sindonico field within its competence, respecting the feelings of the faithful and the property rights of the shroud. You must, however, make some clarifications regarding the use of purported material sindonico: no new withdrawal of material for research purposes on the Holy Shroud took place after April 21, 1988 and both the property and the custody of the Shroud has not that there can be residual material of that third hand picking. What has been achieved in the restoration of 2002 was immediately inventoried and placed under seal, a total and exclusive disposal and discretion of the Holy See. Since there is no degree of safety on the sindonico cover membership of materials on which were performed the experiments in question, the property and custody claim that they cannot recognize any serious value to the results of such experiments. In the climate of mutual confidence with the world of scientists, the Holy See, and Archbishop of Turin invite scientists to wait until the appropriate time has come for a clear and serious organically concerted research programme. It is announced that the research program is still suspended until the next Exposition, while hopefully to start a realization in the aftermath. "

Severino Cardinal Poletto

Archbishop of Turin

Papal custodian of the Holy Shroud

Turin, May 4, 2009

The answer of Professor Fahmi

In response to the reserves of the International Centre of Sindonology where it talks about "tissue samples whose membership to sindonico is at least dubious cloth and not verifiable anyway, as devoid of any traceability" I am forced to respond even to defend the honour of my University I funded the studies described in the book published by Rizzoli.

1. who responded Probably hasn’t had a way to read the book that contains just an appendix concerning the traceability of the samples.

2. samples in question originate from those that Cardinal Saldarini to point d) excludes from its declaration because "material taken with express permission of the keeper during the October 1978 exams".

3. as indicated in the declarations of Cardinal Saldarini and Poletto, yours truly took contacts for resitituzione samples.

4. the results of research published can be confirmed by parallel testing conducted by the CIS. The undersigned is available to provide the know-how to do so.

 

2)  Sindone, la battaglia dei reperti. Ma Fanti li ha buoni…

In view of the exposition scheduled Saturday afternoon television, continues the debate on the sacred linen studies. The note of Monsignor Nosiglia

Marco Tosatti

Rome

It’s a few days into the new library book of infantrymen and Gaeta on the Shroud. Prof. Fahmi, of the University of Padua, presents the results of experiments on sindonici fragments in its possession. From these it appears that the curtain sindonico is compatible with the era in which Jesus Christ was crucified. A further denial to questionable, and discussed, a result of examinations to C14, spoiled by miscalculations, and dated the fabric to the middle ages.

Yesterday a note from Turin International Centre of Sindonology, and Archbishop of Turin, mons. Cesare Nosiglia, put stakes in the work of foot soldiers. Cannot be attributed to ” any serious value ” to the results of research on the Shroud mentioned in volume, Ansa said the Papal Custodian of sindonico sheet, the Archbishop of Turin Cesare Nosiglia. ” Since there is no degree of membership security of materials which were to be carried out such experiments at sindonico sheet-reads a note from monsignor Nosiglia-ownership and custody claim that they cannot recognize any serious value to the results of such alleged experiments. ”

The Archbishop of Turin confirms the statements already released, at similar attempts in the past about alleged sindonico samples, by his predecessors, Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini and Cardinal Severino Poletto. ” Perhaps it would be useful and necessary to resume searches-added monsignor Nosiglia-but at the moment there is no activity in this direction. We will evaluate with the Holy See, what you need to do. ”

A little later came the clarification by Giulio Fanti, according to which the samples are based on new research on the Shroud "originate from those that Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini excluded from his statement why material taken with express permission of the keeper during the October 1978 exams". According to the International Center for Sindonology (CIS) the examined materials are not "trackable" with certainty and so this would thwart research trust. But for professor finds his Foot examined are absolutely "trackable and come, as evidenced by documents in his possession, from former 1978 levies."Research results published-also claims Fahmi-may be confirmed by parallel testing conducted by the CIS ". In his note the scholar declares himself "available to provide its know-how for this purpose".

And this last sentence certainly takes on a meaning of provocation. But the story of withdrawals of material from the Shroud, which formed a kind of nightmare for city managers, is varied and complex. And let’s say right away that the prof. Fahmi had original material available.

Summary: there have been withdrawals of sindonico material in both 1978 and in 1988. In both cases were authorized by the custodian of the shroud, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Anastasio Ballestrero, with the agreement of the owner, Humbert II of Savoy in 1978, and John Paul II in 1988. Reportedly in sindonologi environments for a long time, prof. Foot soldiers would receive some fibers taken from the Shroud in 1978 by prof. Ray Rogers, one of American scientists of Sturp.

But in the 1988 John Riggi of Numana, the expert who cut the Shroud for the examination to C14, with the agreement of Cardinal Ballestrero, retained some fibers of the Shroud, collected fragments of blood and aspirated dust samples present between linen and canvas. The conditional is a must; He was not drafted any withdrawal verbal for the C14, let alone for a semi-official collection like that. But it is very likely that after the death of Riggi, in 2008, a portion of the material preserved by a special Foundation at jacks has come. After the death of Cardinal Ballestrero,. Saldarini issued a statement, asking that any sindonico material in freedom was made. But it does not appear that anyone has complied to the request.

All this finally: prof. Fahmi has carried out investigations on certain sindonico and authentic material, although outside the control of the International Centre of Sindonology. And furthermore to 25 years away from the C14 whose credibility the results of Fahmi contribute further erode, perhaps you could begin to assume a continuation of the research program at the time designed by Sturp, the Shroud of Turin Research Project, the international group of scientists who in 1978 produced a harvest of reliable and proven scientific results on the Shroud.

On the present was Archbishop of Turin with a note.

"With reference to the news published by the Rizzoli Publisher of the book "the mystery of the shroud" by Giulio Fanti and Saverio Gaeta, which the following searches would be on material that is supposed to come from the Shroud, the Papal Custodian of the Shroud contained confirmation about it in official statements on "experiments and analysis concerning the Holy Shroud" already issued – on the occasion of other similar attempts in the past about alleged sindonico – goods from stock samples its predecessors: by Cardinal Giovanni

Saldarini in September 1995 and by Cardinal Severino Poletto the May 4, 2009.

In particular insists that there is no security on the materials which were to be carried out such experiments at the sindonico, the property sheet and the custody State that they cannot recognize any serious value to the results of these alleged experiments.