“Today is truly a holy and historic day. We enthrone in this sanctuary an authentic copy of the Holy Face, the Volto Santo, which was touched to the original at the shrine of Manoppello, the sanctuary that houses not only a veil... but a gaze. The Volto Santo—the Holy Face—of Jesus is not just an object of devotion. It is an encounter—an encounter with the living Christ, who looks upon us not only from history, but from eternity.”
With these moving words, His Excellency Bishop Alfred A. Schlert opened a sacred and unforgettable ceremony on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto. Under a radiant summer sky, Catholics from across all five counties of the Diocese gathered to venerate this extraordinary image of the Risen Christ during the Solemn Mass and Enthronement Ceremony. The main chapel overflowed with the faithful pilgrims united by devotion, drawn from diverse parishes, all yearning to witness a glimpse of heaven through the Holy Face.
Nick Gibboni, Executive Director of the National Centre for Padre Pio, welcomed the congregation with heartfelt gratitude. He recounted how this blessed opportunity first emerged—a rare and grace-filled invitation to receive a replica of the Holy Face of Manoppello. “When I heard of this extraordinary opportunity,” Gibboni said, “I approached Bishop Schlert, who was not only gracious enough to write the letter of request, but he also expressed his willingness to accompany me on a pilgrimage to the Basilica in Italy to receive the replica.”
Gibboni described the journey as providential. “We arrived together late last week. After celebrating Mass at the Basilica, Bishop Schlert touched our replica veil to the original Holy Face—a deeply moving moment.”
But the graces did not end there. “We were also blessed to travel home with Padre Antonio Gentili himself, O.F.M., Capuchin, rector of the Basilica of Manoppello, who has joined us for this special celebration. His presence here today is a profound gift, and we are honored that he took the time—his first ever journey outside of Italy—to be with us.”
Gibboni continued by reflecting on the sacred nature of relics and veils. “When something has been touched to a relic of Our Lord, especially one as sacred as the Holy Face, it is to be treated with the utmost reverence—as if it were the original. This makes today’s enthronement incredibly meaningful for all of us.”
Indeed, this veil—so intimately linked to the mystery of the Resurrection—is believed to have covered the face of Christ, resting upon the burial shroud at the moment He opened His eyes to new life. Gibboni noted, “There are very few replicas in the world that have been touched to the original veil. Ours is one of them—and it is extraordinary. The replica is a high-resolution scan, and to the naked eye, it is nearly indistinguishable from the original. Remarkably, the image can be seen from both the front and back of the veil, offering a truly unique and contemplative experience.”
Bishop Schlert offered a theological reflection, guiding hearts toward the divine mystery embodied in the Holy Veil. “What we see in this veil is a mystery. It bears the image of a man who suffered and yet is alive—a face marked by peace, by wounds, by gentleness. No artist’s hand crafted this image. No brush painted these features. It is as if Christ Himself, in the hour of His resurrection, left us this gift to invite us into a deeper intimacy with Him.”
The Bishop reminded the faithful of how some relics have preserved the memory of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The Veil of Veronica stands as a remnant of the Passion, bearing the image of Christ's suffering face on the road to Calvary. The Shroud of Turin, long venerated as His burial cloth, serves as a solemn witness to His Death. And now, this copy of the Holy Veil is presented as a remnant of the Resurrection itself—capturing the face of Jesus at the moment of His glorious triumph over death.
“The first thing we notice when we look at this Holy Face is the eyes—they are open. This is not the face of the dead Christ in the tomb, but the Living One, risen in glory, who looks upon us with mercy and love. He sees us—not from afar, but from here, from within the very fabric of our own suffering and longing.
“To those who ask: Does God really see me? Does He know what I carry? What I hide? What I fear?”, Bishop Schlert offered this consoling truth: “This Holy Face is the answer: Yes, He sees. Yes, He knows. And yes—He loves. His gaze is not like the cold stare of the world, which judges or demands. His gaze is like that moment when He looked at Peter after he had denied Him—not to shame him, but to restore him.”
The Bishop concluded his homily with a spiritual challenge and a path forward:
“What do we take away from this beautiful day, in which we receive and enthrone this authentic copy of the Holy Face? I propose three things: First, we are called to contemplate. Not to rush past this image, but to sit before it. To allow it to look into us. Our pilgrimage today is not an act of tourism—it is a journey of the heart. Here, in silence, Christ reveals who He is—and who we are called to be.
“Then, we are called to reflect His image to others. If we have truly seen His face, we cannot leave unchanged. We must be His face—in our families, in our communities, in our Church. When others look at us, do they see something of His peace? The peace of the Volto Santo? Do people see in us His truth, His compassion?
“And thirdly, we are called to hope. In a world of confusion, division, and pain, the Volto Santo remains—quiet, undamaged—gently proclaiming that Christ is alive, that love has triumphed, that mercy is stronger than death.”
At the close of Mass, Padre Antonio Gentili addressed the faithful in Italian:
“I am especially happy to be here today to share this solemn Eucharistic celebration, and to thank the Lord for the great gift He has given to this community at the National Centre for Padre Pio. Today, the Lord Jesus, in the form of this relic, comes here to speak to us of light, of life, and of the Resurrection.”
With warmth and humility, he offered a deeply personal acknowledgment:
“Allow me to share something I carry in my heart: you are truly blessed to have a bishop like Don Alfred. He is a very fatherly man, and we thank him for all the service he offers to this Church.
“I thank all my fellow priests who have joined us in this extraordinary moment of prayer. I also thank all the staff and collaborators of the National Centre for Padre Pio, who make all this possible. Of course, I cannot recall everyone’s names now, but I thank you all sincerely. A special thanks to the choir, who truly animated the celebration beautifully—absolutely wonderful!
And I thank each of you for coming here today, to be illuminated by this extraordinary light, which is the face of Jesus.”
He concluded with a hopeful connection:
“From today, a beautiful connection is born: Barto, Pennsylvania, and Manoppello, Italy are united. And this should not remain simply a touching memory—it must remain engraved in our hearts. And we can show that only through prayer.”
As the celebration drew to a close, Bishop Schlert invited the faithful to join him in praying an ancient prayer of the Church:
“Illumina, Domine, Vultum Tuum super nos” — “O Lord, let Your face shine upon us.”
“May the light of Christ guide our steps from this holy place back into our own lives,” he said, “carrying the memory of the face of Christ not only in our minds, not only in our eyes, but in our hearts.”
Photos by Waldo Alvarado
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