European Catholics arrive in Aachen this week to see a 2,000-year-old dress reputedly worn by Mary when she gave birth to Jesus. Christian relics continue to draw crowds, but for most people seeing isn't believing.
The bones and belongings of holy people remain a big tourist draw in Europe. For most modern day pilgrims, whether the ancient Christian relics are real or not is beside the point.
Aachen expects 100,000 pilgrims and tourists during its 2007 pilgrimage, which started Friday and goes until June 10.
Among the visitors will be plenty of skeptics. That's okay, Aachen's Roman Catholic Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff said at the Friday service to open the shrine containing the relics. One doesn't need to do pilgrimages or venerate relics to be a good Catholic, he said.
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