According to The Guardian, the pontiff prayed in front of the artefact before reminding people in a mass of 60,000 later that it should encourage people to think about Jesus, and "the face of every suffering and unjustly persecuted person".
The Shroud is a piece of linen thought by many to be the ancient burial cloth Jesus was wrapped in after his crucifixion.
John Iannone, a leading expert on the Shroud according to Vatican Radio, said his interest in the Turin Shroud began almost 40 years ago, and that he was "mesmerized" by it when he first saw the image in the cloth.
Mr Iannone also described the Pope's visit as "wonderful," and he expects the pontiff's visit will increase public awareness about the artefact.
The Catholic Church takes no official position on the Shroud's age but says it is a matter for scientific investigation.
Carbon tests in the 1980s dated it at about 700 years old.
