In mid-September 2025, Father Andrew Dalton, an American priest based in Italy, visited Slovenia for public events connected with Catholic outreach and education. Slovenian coverage highlighted two stops: a lecture in Ljubljana focused on the Shroud of Turin, and his participation as an international guest at the national youth festival Stična mladih at Stična Abbey. (Družina)
Lecture in Ljubljana: history, forensic details, and questions from the audience
Slovenia’s Catholic weekly Družina reported that Father Dalton spoke in Ljubljana at the Galerija Družine, drawing strong interest from attendees. The article describes him as a Shroud of Turin specialist and notes his academic connection to Rome’s Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. (Družina)
His presentation, as summarized by Družina, covered:
- The Shroud’s historical trail before 1354, the first widely cited documented appearance in France. The article says Dalton traced a proposed route from early Christian custody to Edessa, then Constantinople (noting a transfer in 944), and later into Western Europe after the Crusades. (Družina)
- Iconographic and manuscript arguments, including references to images in the Hungarian Pray Codex (dated 1192–1195) that the article says show features consistent with the Shroud’s weave pattern and characteristic holes. It also notes a claimed resemblance between early Pantokrator depictions and the Shroud face image. (Družina)
- Forensic points discussed in popular Shroud literature, including the claim that lab work identified human blood of type AB and mentions bilirubin levels in the context of severe trauma; the article says Dalton connected stain locations to wounds described in the Gospels (scourging, crown of thorns, and a chest wound). (Družina)
Družina adds that the audience had time for questions afterward, including questions about blood analyses, the head cloth (the sudarium), and the Shroud’s historical path prior to 1354. (Družina)
Stična mladih: international guest at Slovenia’s national Catholic youth gathering
Coverage in Aleteia Slovenia and Slovenske novice places Father Dalton at Stična mladih 2025, held at the Cistercian monastery in Stična. The event is described as the 44th edition of the national gathering, with about 5,500 participants and around 300 volunteers. (Aleteia.si)
Aleteia explains that the 2025 theme and slogan was “Poglej gor!” (“Look up!”), framed around Christian hope, and it notes a focus on saints as approachable models for young people, naming Pier Giorgio Frassati in that context. (Aleteia.si)
Slovenske novice describes a full-day program that included a Mass celebrated by Celje Bishop Maksimilijan Matjaž, followed by workshops (it mentions 26 workshops), sports tournaments, and music in the evening. The same article identifies Father Dalton as one of the “guests from abroad,” alongside Patricia Sandoval, and also notes the presence of priest Martin Golob in the program. (Slovenske Novice)
A visit built around public explanation and youth formation
Taken together, Slovenian reporting presents Father Dalton’s Slovenia visit as a short, focused trip: a Ljubljana talk aimed at explaining the Shroud of Turin in an accessible way, followed by participation at a large national youth event where international guests contributed to the day’s workshops and talks. (Družina)
Please find original articles here:
Družina
www.druzina.si/clanek/skrivnost-torinskega-prta-pritegnila-stevilne-
Poslusalce Aleteia
si.aleteia.org/2025/09/20/sticna-mladih-danes-vabi-poglej-gor/ Slovenske novice –
The biggest Slovenian yellow press daily
slovenskenovice.delo.si/novice/slovenija/v-sticni-mlade-nagovoril-martin-golob-foto