Textile experts, headed by Mechtild Fleury-Lemberg, undertook a radical "restoration" of the Shroud under the auspices of the Archbishop of Turin. Some scientists think that the restoration, conducted in secret for security reasons following 9/11, was reckless and perhaps dangerous to the long term preservation of the cloth.
Thirty patches sewn to the cloth by Poor Clare Nuns in 1534 to repair burn holes from the 1532 fire were removed. The backing cloth, also sewn on in 1534, was also removed and replaced with a new backing cloth. Carbonized material near the burn holes was scraped clean. Weights and cold steam were used to flatten many creases in the cloth. Scientific experts who understand the nature of the images on the cloth were not consulted. Because the images are formed by microscopically thin coatings of starch fractions and sugars that adhere to some of the Shroud's fibers, there is a real possibility that the stretching and the use of water vapor might loosen some of the image bearing material.
According to Barrie Schwortz, "They set off a firestorm of controversy, criticism, debate and recrimination that ultimately engulfs, polarizes and divides the Shroud research community."
