Construction continues on altar in Juarez

The city of Juarez has only 20 days to get everything just right for the pope’s visit.

Workers there are building the altar where Pope Francis will give the highly anticipated mass. The Catholic Diocese of Juarez said the altar is being made with materials from the region.

The priest in charge of the altar said it is the only place where the wine and host are consecrated and turn into the blood and body of Christ.

The altar will be held by four, 3-ton rocks, and will measure more than 12-feet long.

There will also be a “cruz monumental” that will be placed at the border where the pope will pray for migrants – right before the eucharist.

The cross will be 12-feet tall and will remain in “el punto” after the pope leaves.

The diocese of Juarez said the pope will show his respect for the migrants who died while trying to cross into the US. They said he will travel through the crowd, change for the mass, and then walk toward the river to make the offering.

There will be a big cross made of “desert rose rock” at that spot with items that symbolize the plight of migrants.

The pope will then pray in silence, then come back to the altar site for the mass.