Linda Benton was an artist from Syracuse 
New York. She went to work as a volunteer at St. Mary Mission in Tohatchi, New Mexico- Navajo land in the Spring of 1994. 

Later that year she was asked to paint a replica of the Franciscan San Damiano Cross for a new mission site at Coyote Canyon, New Mexico. Shortly there after, Father John Mittelstadt OFM, pastor of St. Mary's Mission suggested she paint another San Damiano Cross, this time with Native American figures, even the image of Christ. He wanted to put this second cross in the little hogan chapel used by Franciscan Friars, sisters and Volunteers for morning prayer and daily Mass. 

Linda Benton Studio

For Christmas the following year she sent a card to her friend, a priest who was working in Rome. Along with the card she sent some photos of her recent work, including the "Tohatchi Cross". 

In jest, Linda told her friend that if the Pope liked the Cross he could have it. 

Linda's friend showed the photo to a confrere of his, who happened to be a Cardinal. The Cardinal showed the photo to the Pope. 

His Holiness John Paul II informed the Cardinal that he would be pleased to have the cross for the Vatican Collection. 


It didn't seem real until Father John and Linda received photographs of the Holy Father accepting the cross from Cardinal Schotte in the Pope's private quarters.