The cross, which features a profile of Jesus Christ in its interior, was designed by Mexican architect Jaime Latapí López.

Chiapas governor Juan Sabines Guerrero was an early supporter of the project, which he claimed would be an important tourist destination for Tuxtla Gutiérrez and would serve as a "symbol of the city.

[3] The cornerstone was laid on 29 April 2007 in a ceremony featuring governor Sabines and Rogelio Cabrera López, the archbishop of Tuxtla.

In 2009, the board of trustees treasurer Felipe de Jesús Granda Pastrana guaranteed that the project would be completed by 16 September 2010, in time for the country's bicentennial celebration, however that deadline was missed.

[6] A second stage of construction would add commercial and tourism infrastructure including a lobby area, restaurant, museum, classroom, gardens and new roads to the site.