Cristos Negros of Central America and Mexico

The Cristos Negros or Black Christs of Central America and Mexico trace their origins to the veneration of an image of Christ on a cross located in the Guatemalan town of Esquipulas, near the Honduran and Salvadoran border. This image was sculpted in 1595 in wood and over time it blackened and gained a reputation for being miraculous. Little is known of how veneration of the image was spread by clergy, although there are records of its introduction in various locations, especially in Central America, southern Mexico, central Mexico (especially in areas near Mexico City) and even as far north as New Mexico. However, a number of these images, such as the ones in Chalma, State of Mexico and Mérida, Yucatán have origin stories that do not connect the local image with that of Esquipulas. The Cristo Negro of Esquipulas remains an important symbol for Central America, with its sanctuary the most visited site in the region. On January 11, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a beautiful replica of the Christ of Esquipulas and its accompanying images (Virgin of Sorrows, Mary Magdalene, and Saint John the Apostle) were donated by Dr. Jorge Ruano Rossil to the San José Cathedral in Antigua Guatemala, unleashing an irrepressible and renewed veneration for the Black Christ among its followers. Antigua Guatemala is a city formerly known as Santiago knights of Guatemala and declared Humanity's Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1979. There are hundreds of other such images with at least local importance with Christ of Chalma attracting millions of visitors, second only to that of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico. The popularity of the image continues to spread, with Central American and Mexican migrants bringing the image to the United States and Canada, founding new sanctuaries.