Pope latest pilgrim to Turin cathedral to pray before Shroud of Turin

Pope Francis prays in front of the Holy Shroud, the 14 foot-long linen revered by some as the burial cloth of Jesus, on display at the Cathedral of Turin, Italy, Sunday, June 21, 2015. Francis visited the long linen with the faded image of a bearded man, during his two-day pilgrimage to Turin. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (The Associated Press)

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Pope Francis arrives at Turin's Vittorio Veneto square, northern Italy, to celebrate mass, Sunday, June 21, 2015. Pope Francis earlier prayed in front of the Holy Shroud, the 14 foot-long linen revered by some as the burial cloth of Jesus, on display at the Cathedral of Turin. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (The Associated Press)

TURIN, Italy – Pope Francis has paused in silent prayer before the Shroud of Turin on special display in the northern Italian city's cathedral.

Francis on Sunday was the latest of hundreds of thousands of people who have come this year to view the burial linen some believe covered the body of Jesus.

Francis sat for several minutes before the shroud, contained in a special protective glass case. He lowered his head at times in silent reflection and occasionally gazed up at the 4.3-meter (14-foot) cloth. Then he took a few steps, placed his hand on the case, and walked away without comment.

The shroud's display began April 19 and runs through June 24.

Skeptics say the cloth bearing the image of a crucified man is a medieval forgery.