At a time when the modern world lives in permanent agitation and superficiality, an ancient tradition re-emerges like a beacon in the storm. The Veil of Saint Veronica, venerated each year in Rome during Lent, reminds us that at the very heart of Christ's Passion, a simple yet profound gesture of humanity can change everything.
Father Enzo Fortunato, a Franciscan and spokesperson for St. Peter's Basilica – a newly created role by Pope Francis – sees in Veronica's gesture a living image of Christian hope. "It is an act of hope because it shows us that man, that woman, can still care for the other," he shares.
Although the Gospels do not explicitly mention the figure of Veronica, Christian tradition holds that a woman, moved by the sufferings of Christ ascending to Calvary, wiped his bloodied face with a cloth upon which his holy Face was miraculously imprinted. This gesture, transmitted through the centuries, gave rise to a particular devotion to the Holy Face.
In Rome, this veneration manifests in a very special way during the annual exposition of the veil, preserved since the 7th century in St. Peter's Basilica. Protected in a silver reliquary, the veil rests in one of the columns surrounding the main altar, above a statue depicting Veronica holding the sacred cloth. It is unveiled only once a year, on the fifth Sunday of Lent, on the eve of Holy Week.
This year, the solemn exposition took place on Sunday, April 6th, in St. Peter's Square, followed by a Mass presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the basilica. This date also fell within the framework of the "stational churches," an ancient Roman tradition where the faithful gather during Lent to pray in the places where the saints and martyrs of the Eternal City rest.
Father Fortunato emphasizes that the essential thing is not so much the relic itself but what it signifies:
"What we honor is first and foremost the Face of Christ. This rite pushes us to seek this Face in our daily lives, in our relationships, even the most ordinary ones."
It is a clear invitation to recognize Christ in every person we meet.
Among other relics said to be acheiropoieta – that is, not made by human hands – Fortunato also mentions the Holy Face of Manoppello and the Holy Shroud of Turin, both objects of great veneration and charged with deep spiritual significance, especially during Lent.
In this high point of the liturgical year, where the faithful are called to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the contemplation of the Holy Face helps to refocus Christian life on the essential. "It is easy to recite a prayer or perform a small charitable gesture, but to truly see Christ in those around us, and to live charity daily, despite our sins and weaknesses, is much more demanding," acknowledges the religious.
He also recalls that the streets of Jerusalem, on which the Lord walked carrying his cross, were narrow. Just as one could approach him to insult him – as Scripture attests – it was equally possible to approach him with compassion. This is what Veronica's gesture represents.
Through this living tradition, pilgrimage takes on its full meaning. Father Fortunato sees in the journey of the faithful who go to Rome to venerate the veil a movement toward conversion. Within the framework of the Jubilee of Hope, under the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," these visits take on an even stronger dimension.
"The pilgrimage expresses the desire to start anew, to purify one's life from sin, and to renew one's bond as a child with God," he explains. He reminds us that the Christian life is a journey, and that seeing life as a voyage allows us to better grasp its meaning. Pilgrimage then becomes a concrete image of this interior road toward God: to set oneself in motion, to abandon the superfluous, and to strive for the essential.
In a society that runs aimlessly, saturated with ephemeral distractions, finding direction is vital. Pilgrimage and the veneration of the Holy Face are powerful means of rediscovering this orientation.
"We live in a world where young people, although hyper-connected virtually, are often disconnected on a human level," laments the Franciscan. Whether during a family meal or a simple encounter, gazes are lost in screens and dialogue withers. Devotion to the Holy Face can help rediscover the beauty of true, deep, incarnate relationships.
"This is one of the great challenges of our time: to learn to look the other in the eyes, to leave the virtual to return to the real," affirms the religious. To stop for a moment, in a world that never ceases to run, becomes an act of freedom and wisdom. It allows us to restore to time its just value and to the other, their dignity.
Ultimately, this is what the Veil of Veronica teaches us: the courage to stop, to perform an act of love, and to see in every human face the reflection of the suffering and glorious Christ.