The 492-foot cross at Spain’s Valley of the Fallen monument will not be removed, despite the government’s ongoing plans to “resignify” the site.

Built under dictator Francisco Franco and inaugurated in 1959, the complex, comprising a basilica, Benedictine monastery, and school, was intended to honour those who died in the Spanish Civil War.

Although 40,000 people from both sides are buried there, the site's link to Franco, who was buried there until 2019, has long sparked debate.

Bishop Francisco César García Magán, the spokesperson for the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, said the government initially considered removing the Benedictines, deconsecrating the basilica, and “the destruction of the cross… although it was not strictly a proposal from the government".

Following discussions with Spanish officials and the Vatican, the Church has secured key commitments. The basilica will remain a place of worship, the Benedictines will stay, and religious symbols like the cross will be preserved.

While no final agreement has been signed, García confirmed these conditions had been agreed.

The government plans to transform the site into a space for “educational, cultural, and democratic use", with a €26 million (£22.5 million) redesignification project that includes a museum and a new historical narrative.

Proposals are open until the end of 2026.

Protests have erupted. The Association in Defense of the Valley of the Fallen called the changes “a desecration” and urged the Church to “defend the integrity of the Valley of the Fallen".

Cardinal José Cobo, Archbishop of Madrid, has served as mediator. García said the bishops “unanimously endorsed” his leadership “without a single dissenting voice".

Despite tensions, the Church continues talks to safeguard the site's religious identity, as reported by The Catholic Herald.