The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Manoppello, Italy

Manoppello is home to the Holy Face of Jesus, believed to be Veronica's Veil, drawing pilgrims to witness this miraculous image of Christ.

In 1506, a mysterious stranger appeared at the door of Dr. Giacomo Antonio Leonelli in this quiet Abruzzo hill town and handed him a wrapped package. When Leonelli opened it, he discovered a translucent veil bearing the image of a man's face—and when he looked up, the stranger had vanished without trace. For over five centuries, pilgrims have journeyed to Manoppello to venerate what many believe is the vera icon—the true image of Christ's face, perhaps captured at the very moment of resurrection. The Volto Santo di Manoppello presents a remarkable mystery: a bearded face with open eyes gazing upward, visible from both sides of the cloth, bearing no detectable paint or pigment. Unlike the Shroud of Turin, which shows Christ in death with closed eyes, this image depicts him alive and risen. When the two images are superimposed, the facial features align with astonishing precision—suggesting both cloths may have touched the same face. Today, Capuchin friars guard this treasure in a basilica visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, the first papal pilgrimage here in over four centuries. Whether you come as a believer seeking an encounter with Christ's countenance or simply as a curious traveler drawn by one of Christianity's great enigmas, Manoppello offers a pilgrimage experience unlike any other—an invitation to seek the face of God.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The story of Manoppello's Holy Face begins with mystery and has never lost its air of the miraculous. According to the Relatione historica compiled by Father Donato da Bomba around 1640, the veil arrived in this Abruzzese town in 1506 when an unknown pilgrim—described simply as a stranger of distinguished appearance—presented Dr. Giacomo Antonio Leonelli with a carefully wrapped package. The physician, also a notary of some standing, unwrapped it to find a delicate veil bearing a face. When he turned to thank the stranger, the man had disappeared. The Leonelli family treasured the relic for over a century, but the story took darker turns. Around 1608, a soldier named Pancrazio Petrucci married into the family and, learning of the veil's value, stole it from his wife Marzia and sold it. After years of legal battles and family tragedy, Dr. Donato Antonio de Fabritiis acquired the relic between 1618 and 1620 for 400 scudi. In 1638, de Fabritiis donated it to the Capuchin friars, who had established a small convent on the hill above Manoppello. The friars have guarded it ever since. For centuries, the Volto Santo remained a local devotion, venerated by Abruzzese pilgrims but largely unknown beyond the region. That changed dramatically in 1999 when Father Heinrich Pfeiffer, S.J., Professor of Christian Art History at the Pontifical Gregorian University, announced a stunning identification: the Manoppello image, he argued, was the original Veil of Veronica—the cloth used by a compassionate woman to wipe Christ's face on the Via Dolorosa, which had somehow disappeared from St. Peter's Basilica during the tumultuous early sixteenth century, possibly during the 1527 Sack of Rome. Pfeiffer's theory electrified the scholarly world. The Vatican's current Veronica relic shows only faint, unclear markings, while Manoppello's veil displays a vivid, detailed face. Could the true relic have traveled from Rome to this obscure hill town? The Church has never formally authenticated the relic, treating it as a devotional object worthy of veneration but not requiring belief. Yet the faithful continue to come, drawn by the power of the image itself. Scientific investigation has added another layer of wonder. The veil measures just 17 by 24 centimeters and is extraordinarily thin—approximately 42 percent of its surface consists of empty space between threads. The image appears on both sides of the cloth simultaneously, with subtle variations in the eyes and mouth depending on which side is viewed. Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer, a German Trappist nun who has lived as a hermit near the sanctuary since 2003, discovered in 1979 that when the Manoppello face is superimposed on the Shroud of Turin face, they align with less than five percent variance in proportions. The Shroud shows Christ dead with closed eyes; Manoppello shows him risen with eyes open and gazing upward. Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage on September 1, 2006, marked a watershed moment. Arriving by helicopter for what he described as a "private pilgrimage," the Pope spent time in silent prayer before the Holy Face and delivered a meditation on seeking God's countenance. Three weeks later, the church was elevated to Minor Basilica status. Reports indicate that Benedict kept a copy of the Holy Face in his private quarters and directed his gaze toward it on his deathbed, December 31, 2022.

☩ Basilica del Volto Santo

The sanctuary crowns a hill above Manoppello, offering views across the Abruzzo countryside to the Maiella massif. The current church, though built on centuries of devotion, features a striking modern façade in Romanesque style—red and white geometric stonework inspired by L'Aquila's magnificent Collemaggio basilica.

Santuario del Volto Santo (Basilica of the Holy Face)

Local Name: Santuario del Volto Santo Address: Via Cappuccini, 26, 65024 Manoppello (PE), Italy GPS Coordinates: 42.250075, 14.062006 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: www.voltosanto.it Dedication: Holy Face of Jesus (Volto Santo) Historical Note: The Capuchins established their friary on this hillside in the early seventeenth century, and the veil has resided here since 1638. The original church was modest, but devotion to the Holy Face prompted expansions over the centuries. The current basilica, with its distinctive façade and spacious interior, reflects major renovations completed in the twentieth century. Pope Benedict XVI's visit in 2006 led to its elevation to Minor Basilica status. Spiritual Importance: The Holy Face is displayed in a raised tabernacle behind the main altar, resting in its original walnut frame (placed there around 1618) between two glass panes, housed in a solid silver monstrance decorated with gold and precious stones. Pilgrims access the immediate vicinity via a double staircase behind the altar—note that stairs must be climbed to view the relic closely. The interior contains three naves, polychrome stained glass windows depicting Christ's life, and the Chapel of the Madonna of Pompeii in late Baroque style. A museum upstairs—"PENUEL, The Face of the Lord"—curated by Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer, displays comparisons with the Shroud of Turin and ex-voto offerings from centuries of pilgrims. Opening Hours:

  • Summer: 6:00 AM–12:30 PM; 3:00 PM–7:30 PM
  • Winter: 6:00 AM–12:30 PM; 3:00 PM–6:30 PM

Mass Times:

  • Weekdays: 7:15 AM
  • Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM (winter: 4:30 PM)
  • Sundays: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 5:30 PM

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Third Sunday in May – Feast of the Holy Face Basilica del Volto Santo. The main annual celebration commemorating the veil's arrival in 1506 features solemn Mass, a procession through Manoppello's streets with the relic carried in its silver monstrance, rose petals scattered on the reliquary, and children dressed as angels accompanying the Holy Face. August 6 – Feast of the Transfiguration Basilica del Volto Santo. An evening procession with the Holy Face illuminated by colorful lights lining the streets, local musicians, and celebrations in the piazza below the sanctuary.

🛏️ Where to Stay

La Casa del Pellegrino ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Cappuccini, 26, 65024 Manoppello (PE), Italy 🌐 Website: www.lacasadelpellegrinomanoppello.it Adjacent to the sanctuary and operated by the Capuchin friars, this pilgrim house offers 37-39 modern, air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, TV, fridge, safe, and WiFi. The restaurant serves traditional Abruzzese cuisine. Rates range from approximately €65/night (single) to €155/night (family rooms). Shuttle service available from Pescara Airport. B&B Nonna Gina 📍 Address: Piazza Castello, 16, 65024 Manoppello (PE), Italy 🔗 Booking: https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/b-amp-b-nonna-gina-manoppello1.html Charming Italian bed and breakfast within walking distance of the sanctuary, offering a warm family atmosphere. Villa Pardi 📍 Address: Via Pardi, 65024 Manoppello (PE), Italy 🔗 Booking: https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/villa-pardi.html Quiet villa with garden and pool, approximately five minutes' walk from the basilica.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest airport is Pescara/Abruzzo Airport (PSR), approximately 20 kilometers away (20-25 minutes by car). Primarily a Ryanair hub with connections to European cities including London Stansted, Brussels, and Barcelona. La Casa del Pellegrino offers shuttle service for guests. From Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Manoppello is approximately 180 kilometers east (2-2.5 hours by car via the A24/A25 motorways). By Car from Rome: Take the A24 motorway toward L'Aquila, then continue on the A25 toward Pescara. Exit at Manoppello (kilometer 16) and follow signs to "Santuario del Volto Santo." The drive takes approximately two hours. Free parking is available at the sanctuary. By Train: Regional trains operate from Rome Tiburtina station through Sulmona to Manoppello Scalo station. Journey time is approximately 3.5-4 hours with one transfer at Sulmona. From the station, take local TUA bus Line 3 or taxi uphill to the sanctuary (approximately 4 kilometers). Check schedules at Trenitalia. By Bus: Regional bus services operated by TUA (Trasporto Unico Abruzzese) connect Pescara and Chieti to Manoppello. Bus Line 3 runs between Manoppello Scalo and the sanctuary area. From Rome, FlixBus operates services to Pescara, where you can connect via local bus or taxi. Check TUA schedules at www.tuabruzzo.it.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Paul Badde, The Face of God: The Rediscovery of the True Face of Jesus (Amazon) – German journalist's compelling investigation into the Manoppello veil and its connection to Veronica's Veil.
  • Paul Badde, The True Icon: From the Shroud of Turin to the Veil of Manoppello (Amazon) – Explores the relationship between the two most significant relics bearing Christ's image.
  • Paul Badde, The Holy Veil of Manoppello: The Human Face of God (Amazon) – Sophia Institute Press publication offering a thorough examination of the veil's history and significance.

Articles & Online Resources:

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🔗 Useful Links

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Lanciano (30 km south, 35 minutes) – Site of the world's oldest scientifically examined Eucharistic Miracle. Around 730-750 AD, a doubting monk witnessed the host transform into flesh and wine into blood. Scientific tests confirmed the flesh is human heart muscle tissue and the blood is type AB—matching that found on the Shroud of Turin. Ortona (40 km southeast, 40 minutes) – The Basilica di San Tommaso Apostolo holds major relics of St. Thomas the Apostle, brought from Greece in 1258, including the saint's skull and an ancient tombstone bearing the Greek inscription "Holy Thomas." San Gabriele dell'Addolorata (50 km southwest, 50 minutes) – Italy's most visited sanctuary, drawing approximately two million pilgrims annually to venerate St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862), patron saint of Abruzzo and of youth. L'Aquila – Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio (85 km west, 1 hour) – Contains the tomb of Pope St. Celestine V and Christianity's first Holy Door (1294), predating Rome's Jubilee tradition. The Perdonanza Celestiniana on August 28-29 offers plenary indulgence.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Seeking the face of Jesus must be the longing of all of us Christians; indeed, we are 'the generation' which seeks his face in our day, the face of the 'God of Jacob.' If we persevere in our quest for the face of the Lord, at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, he, Jesus, will be our eternal joy, our reward and glory forever."

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— Pope Benedict XVI, Manoppello, September 1, 2006 (Vatican)