In 1933, Father Lourdes Costa had a vision for a cross on a mountaintop in southern New Mexico. Nine years later, Costa’s idea became reality. A 29-foot-tall limestone statue of Jesus Christ created by the sculptor Urbici Sole was installed at the top of Mount Cristo Rey, becoming a beacon for thousands of pilgrims every year, some who make the journey on their knees in prayer.
In 2026, desert terrain surrounding the holy site exploded. Contractors have already started to blast the mountain’s south side to prepare for a chunk of President Donald Trump’s long-promised border wall.
