The Face of Jesus

Kathryn Swegart reviews a film that explores mysterious cloths that bear the imprint of Jesus’ face. See it in theaters June 3, 2025.

This documentary does not tell the story I had expected to see. I thought it would be about the Shroud of Turin¾the most scientifically studied treasure of the Catholic Church. No, The Face of Jesus weaves theology of the Incarnation into the fascinating stories of the Shroud, the Holy Veil of Manoppello, and the Veil of Veronica. 

Drone film shots take us through the sprawling landscapes of Poland, Italy, and Jerusalem to help capture the magnificent history of these mysterious cloths that bear the image of Jesus’ face.  

The Shroud of Turin 

Our first stop is at the John Paul II center in Krakow, Poland where a Shroud exhibit has been on display for seven years. The actual Shroud is kept in a very large vacuum chest. Only the pope can authorize the opening of the box. It is interesting to note that in 1978, the actual Shroud was on display in Turin, Italy, marking the 400th anniversary of its arrival in Turin. Cardinal Karol Wojtyla venerated the burial cloth on his way to the conclave in which he was elected Pope John Paul II. 

The curator of the Krakow exhibit explained that the Shroud is a “mirror of the Gospel.” He noted that even rambunctious children, upon viewing the exhibit, fall into reverent silence.  

The curator once asked a little girl, “Who did this?”  

She replied, “A human being.” 

Several years ago, NASA cleaned the wounds on a digital image and opened His eyes. 

The narrator then reflects on the image, “See how much I love you. I am in every Eucharist.” 

It makes for powerful viewing.  

The Veil of Manoppello 

In this visual journey, the story looks at a less famous relic. It is the veil of Manoppello, thought to be the small cloth found in Jesus’ tomb after the Resurrection. It is displayed in a reliquary in Manoppello, Italy. 

Whereas the face on the Shroud is that of a dead man, the face on the veil of Manoppello is that of a living man. To study the wounded face is to see a bearded man with his eyes open. Under some light conditions, the veil shows a man who appears to have a slight smile. When the light changes, a gray pallor comes over the image and his lips open showing his teeth.  

The cloth is made of linen, woven with very fine threads. It is translucent and waterproof. That means that paint was not used to create the image, for paint could not adhere to it. 

An energetic older religious sister demonstrates that the face on the Shroud and that on the veil of Manoppello match up. Overlaying one atop the other, she shows the faces in perfect alignment.  

After viewing the veil of Manoppello, a Capuchin friar takes us to see the tomb of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) in San Giovanni Rotondo. Why would he do that? Padre Pio had a devotion to the veil of Manoppello, calling it a “great treasure” of the Church. Just before he died, the famous future saint bilocated to view the veil one last time. Yes, you heard that right. He was in two places at one time. Now that is something busy mothers would find helpful. 

The cheerful face on the veil of Manoppello reminds us of Jesus’ presence in our lives and that He will never abandon us. 

This well-made documentary is jam-packed with incredible stories, interviews, and landscapes. Woven through the film are vignettes of an artist doing sand painting to help tell part of the story. 

It is well worth your time to view this documentary. It is sure to inspire you and your whole family.   

See The Face of Jesus in Theaters  

The Face of Jesus is in U.S. theaters for one day only: Tuesday, June 3, 2025. For tickets and show times, visit The Face of Jesus - Fathom Entertainment. 

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Copyright 2025 Kathryn Swegart
Images: copyright 2025 Fathom Entertainment, all rights reserved, used with permission.