A museum in Puebla, Mexico, is hosting the exhibition “When Faith Challenged Power,” which depicts the history of the Cristero War, a popular uprising against religious persecution in Mexico that frequently goes unmentioned in education and public discourse.
Marking the centenary of the outbreak of the conflict, also known as the La Cristiada, the exhibition on display at the museum at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) aims to highlight “everything involved in the defense of religious freedom” in early 20th-century Mexico, and how Mexicans “decided to defend something that was important to them.”
Mariana Cruz Ugarte, coordinator of the UPAEP Museum, told ACI Prensa that the exhibition presents “a reflection that seems very pertinent both today and always: what is important to us, and why is it worth defending?”
A war Mexico rarely talks about
Although tensions between the Church and the Mexican state were rooted in the anticlerical 1917 Constitution, the Cristero War erupted in 1926 when the “Calles Law,” named after then-president Plutarco Elías Calles, went into effect in July of that year. The regulations severely restricted religious freedom, banning public worship outside of churches, prohibiting religious attire, dissolving religious orders, and deporting foreign priests.
Mexican bishops suspended religious services, and groups of Catholic faithful spontaneously took up arms against federal repression. Many shouted “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”) — a rallying cry that gave rise to the “Cristeros.” The war resulted in more than 250,000 deaths, according to Cruz.
“There is talk of more than 250,000 deaths in the Cristero War resulting from the armed conflict,” noted Cruz, pointing out that despite the magnitude, it is a “little-known” event. In Mexico, the War of Independence and the Mexican Revolution are “very deeply ingrained” in people’s minds, yet the Cristero War is “a moment in our history that little is said about.” Cruz stressed the importance of remembering, as “when we forget these lessons, which cost our nation dearly in blood, we risk the possibility that it could happen again.”
An exhibition that seeks to surprise
The immersive exhibition recreates the private lives of Cristeros, with soundscapes and scents that make visitors feel “as if we were observing it ourselves.” Cruz noted how visitors are startled by sounds of persecuted Catholics, making it feel as though “we are spying on them.” The exhibition includes conversations between women making flags for the Cristero army, and a clandestine Mass where a priest is asked to lower his voice.
“We seek to stir emotions but also to engage the senses,” Cruz said. Authentic artifacts including flags, photographs, clothes, and weapons are displayed. The exhibition aims to foster “reflection on peaceful coexistence” and “the importance of dialogue.” It also highlights “the importance of getting involved and staying informed about what is happening in political life.” Cruz noted that many young people today “do not feel particularly compelled” to pay attention to these developments. The exhibition at the UPAEP Museum is open to the public free of charge until Jan. 16, 2027.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa and adapted by EWTN News. Views expressed are those of the sources and not necessarily EWTN News.
