The relics will be shown at the Cathedral in St. Louis on Palm Sunday, April 4, and at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., from April 4-18.

"As the recent success of films on the final days of Christ's life show, people of faith still feel a deep connection to his death after 2000 years, and we hope that allowing people to see these relics will make that connection even stronger," said Andrew Walther, vice president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that is organizing the events.

Last year, over 140,000 people reportedly attended nationwide displays, organized by AHR, of a 16th century relic of St. Juan Diego.

"For those who cannot visit the relic shrines in Rome, or the Holy Land itself, this is as close as many people will come to artifacts associated with the crucifixion," Walther said. "We hope that people will come away from viewing these relics with an increased faith and personal connection to Christ's loving sacrifice."

Added AHR President Thomas Serafin: "We are grateful to Archbishop Burke and the Archdiocese of St. Louis and to the John Paul II Cultural Center for providing venues in which these rare and moving items can shown to the American public for the first time in recent memory."

The most celebrated relic of Christ's Passion, of course, is the Shroud of Turin -- the reputed burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The current edition of WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine features an in-depth look at the Shroud, and the latest scientific and historical evidence of its authenticity.